Could my son have a coffee addiction?

by Jennifer
(NY, US)

QUESTION:

My son is in high school and drinks a lot of coffee while he is studying. I have told him I think he is developing a coffee addiction. As you can imagine, he just brushes my concerns aside. Is coffee addictive?

ANSWER:

Yes, the caffeine in coffee is addictive. That's the reason why we just "have" to have our morning coffee, and why people line up at coffee shop windows on the way to work.

It's also why we can get a bit grumpy and jumpy if we are deprived of coffee.

But if the only worry you have with your son is about his coffee addiction, relax. Compared to addictions to other substances, like the nicotine in cigarettes, kicking the coffee habit is pretty easy.

It's an addiction, but a mild one. And unlike with cigarettes or alcohol, there are very few downsides to drinking coffee.

In fact, your son probably benefits from coffee's ability to help him focus and concentrate while he is studying.

You can learn more about this on our page about coffee addiction.

For more on the benefits coffee while studying, read our page on how coffee can increase your brainpower.