Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system, and too much of it can contribute to a variety of health problems. Today’s teenagers aren’t aware how much coffee is too much, they often forget how serious of problems caffeine can cause, from cardiovascular disease to chronic insomnia. Coffee intake is so normalized that even over-consumption of coffee is considered “quirky” and is embraced. TV shows that influence young teens, like the American show Gilmore Girls, where coffee is consumed like water, don’t show the consequences of an overly caffeine intake. According to the Michigan Medicine Department, a quarter of parents who participated in their study say that caffeine is a part of their teen’s daily life.
Although precise Maltese statistics are scant, the patterns emerging overseas reflect making their way to our island. Reports from grammar-schools in other European countries show more than half the students drink two to three coffees daily which is on average more than the recommended caffeine intake for teens. Locally, anecdotal feedback from secondary school students reveals similar trends: coffee consumed to beat sleep, to focus during long classes, or just to keep pace during the week. Many young people say they drink coffee during school hours, not for enjoyment but as a survival strategy!
Young Maltese people often say they drink coffee because it helps them stay awake, improves their mood slightly, or helps them make it through back-to-back lectures. But there’s a deeper issue: the underlying fatigue, pressure and expectation that build up without relief. When more than 80% of students rely on caffeine during the week, when a quarter admit they wouldn’t be able to quit, the issue is no longer a light habit…it becomes a dependency.
Coffee dependency among teens isn’t trivial as it touches on mental health, sleep quality, and long-term wellness. For those of us balancing early morning buses, heavy workloads, and social expectations, it’s another layer of pressure. We aren’t simply imitating adults, but we are absorbing fatigue as normal.
If a young person arrives home exhausted and shaky from caffeine spikes, their ability to concentrate, learn and recover suffers. It’s not just about headaches on Saturday morning, it’s about how we build the rest of our lives.
What Could Change, one might ask?
To change this trend in Malta, several steps can help:
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Schools could include lessons and awareness campaigns about caffeine’s effects—especially aimed at teens juggling heavy workloads.
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Families and peers should model healthier alternatives: better sleep routines, hydration instead of coffee, and realistic expectations of performance.
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Coffee should not be framed as a badge of maturity, but seen for what it is: a tool that can help—but only if used wisely.