Methodology
The topic selection for this discourse is based on the fact that caffeine has become a national phenomenon in the US with its popularity and addiction levels constantly rising to the point of commercial production of processed drinks with caffeine as the central ingredient. As such, it is essential to analyze the topic and get a clear quantitative or empirical picture of how popular is the substance being consumed and what the implied benefits and drawbacks in terms of addiction are. The population under the microscope for this discourse is the US community with underpinning demographics such as age, race/ethnicity, and gender. Thus, to analyze and provide statistical inferences regarding the said population, a meta-data analysis study design will be employed. From the meta-analysis study, the main variables studied include daily caffeine consumption by number of cups as the dependent variable against age, gender, race, and income as the independent variables.
Definition of key terms:
Biased sample- a biased sample is one in which the approach used to obtain the sample culminates in samples that are systematically different from the population.
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Confounding variables- these are outside influences that change the effect of dependent and independent variables.
Discussion
Caffeine consumption habits and intake phenomena vary based on the demographics of the population and the lifestyle the population indulges in. According to a study by Olsen (2013) funded by the University of New Hampshire, ninety percent of all North Americans consume some form of caffeine daily, making the substance the most commonly used drug in the world. Of all the mentioned beverages above, caffeine is most abundant in coffee and is the most popular beverage in America seconded by tea. One cup of coffee contains between 100 and 200 mg of caffeine compared to 70mg of caffeine in tea and less than 50mg in sodas.
As of 2013, coffee recorded a hundred and eighty-three million consumers compared to tea, which had 173.5 million consumers in the United States. Using a sample of 251 students (n=251) collected through a sampling bias of 342 students, further statistics and literature by Olsen indicate that coffee has emerged more popular than soda among adults and students, and its consumption is particularly common among whites, middle-aged, and older adults. Coffee, being a universal product, it is consumed by all individuals regardless of gender or age. However, while both men and women are likely to drink coffee daily, men have a tendency or likelihood of 69% to consume coffee as opposed to women who have a probability of 45%.
The table above illustrates the disparity in consumption (in %) of caffeine through coffee in terms of the number of cups per day based on different demographic aspects such as age, race, gender, income, region, and employment status. A Gallup study in 2015 compiled the statistics in the table above.
Further statistics indicate that less than two-thirds of US adults consume caffeine through one cup of coffee daily. Nonetheless, the 2015 Gallup study by Saad funded by Gallup Inc. suggests that coffee consumers average 2.7 cups daily, a tenet that has remained unchanged since 1999 but Americans remain adamant regarding cutting back on their consumption habits (only ten percent are willing to cut back).
The table above illustrates the American’s daily caffeine consumption through coffee over time from 1999 to 2015, thereby edifying change in consumption. The analysis above is a deduction from the 2015 Gallup study that used a sample of 1,009 aged 18 years and older selected randomly from fifty states, including the District of Columbia.
However, despite the reported steadiness by the Gallup study above, more recent studies indicate a steadily growing tendency of caffeine consumption, primarily through coffee as opposed to soda and tea. On this accord, using a sample of 12, 000 participants (n=12,000), a study by Loftfield et al. (2016) indicates that 75% of all Americans aged twenty and above years consume coffee, out of which, 49% reported daily consumption of the product. As a chemically active substance, caffeine has a high tendency of addiction if consumed in heavy doses or daily. The central rationale behind the addiction lies in the known benefits of the substance. These include improving mental alertness, reducing lethargy, and fostering wakefulness. Reiterating Olsen’s sentiments, Loftfield et al. (2016) assert that the prevalence of caffeine consumption through coffee does not vary based on gender, income, education, or self-reported overall health but varies based on age, ethnicity, alcohol drinking, and smoking.
Caffeine consumption in the United States through coffee in 2019 alone amounted to 26.5 million sixty-kilogram bags, which, according to a study by Statista (2019) (funded by the same company) was an increment from 2018, which had 25.84 million sixty-kilogram bags. This assertion is illustrated by the graph below.
The illustration above quintessentially elaborates the steadily growing trend of caffeine consumption through coffee from 2013 through to 2018. This is further fortified by the proliferating number of coffee shops in the American market. Concurrently, Saad (2015) reports that coffee shops are the fastest expanding segment of the restaurant industry, which, according to her study, is a confounding variable because the consumption trend has not changed since 1999. Comparative analysis indicates that while 26% of Americans claim to drink one cup of coffee daily, 19% drink two cups per day, 8% drink three cups, and 11% dink four or more cups daily. Markedly, only 36% of Americans as per the Gallup study reported being non-drinkers. Moreover, the reason behind the high consumption rates is the fact that recent decades have seen advancement in brewing technology such as coffee makers. To this end, home-brewing technology has allowed Americans to enjoy premium coffee at the comfort of their homes or offices at any time.
Specifically considering caffeine consumption among different age-groups, it can be hypothesized that consumption is higher among older adults and the elderly aged fifty-five years and above. Accepting this hypothesis is Saad through a 2015 Gallup study that remarkably concludes that of the above-mentioned adult population, 74% consume caffeine through coffee daily as opposed to individuals aged between 18 and 34 years. Raising the age limit to sixty years and above (≥60), it is deduced that 86.4% of this adult population has higher consumption levels than younger adults. The associated reason for increased consumption with age is the fact that caffeine has been proven to reduce Parkinson’s disease as well as stroke –conditions associated with aging or at least age is a risk factor. Also, subjective analysis regarding gender proffer that between 11% and 40% of men compared to 6% and 29% consume between ≥16 and ≥32 cups of coffee daily, (Loftfield et al., 2016). The conclusions by Saad and Loftfield et al. are fair and sensible because more than one research and study corroborate with them. Furthermore, these trends are observed every day in real life.
However, all these conspicuous consumption statistics come at a cost. A meta-analysis on literature regarding caffeine consumption and its resultant addiction or dependence reveals that the substance can result in a mild physical dependence. Withdrawal from the substance as 10% of the Americans would like to do, results in specific symptoms such as temporary headaches, depression, fatigue, and irritability. Thus, a follow-up survey to the meta-analysis reveals that one in every four Americans has experienced these symptoms, while 26% of the population consider themselves addicted to caffeine (Saad, 2015). While the amount of caffeine consumption differs for every individual for them to be termed as addicted; a general survey shows that only 10% of individuals who consume one cup of coffee daily consider themselves addicted while 29% of those who drink two cups daily consider themselves addicted, (Saad, 2015). However, the proportion spikes to 46% among individuals who consume three or more cups of coffee.
In essence, the myriad of statistics presented in the discourse edify and generalize the dynamic nature of caffeine consumption from its prevalence underpinned by different demographics, its benefits, and finally drawbacks. Therefore, moderation while consuming caffeinated products is advised –one to two cups per day is encouraged but is not recommended for underage children.
References
Loftfield, E., Freedman, N. D., Dodd, K. W., Vogtmann, E., Xiao, Q., Sinha, R., & Graubard, B. I. (2016). Coffee drinking is widespread in the United States, but usual intake varies by key demographic and lifestyle factors. The Journal of nutrition , 146 (9), 1762-1768. Doi:10.3945/jn.116.233940
Olsen, N. L. (2013). Caffeine consumption habits and perceptions among the University of New Hampshire students. Honors Theses and Capstones . 103. https://scholars.unh.edu/honors/103?utm_source=scholars.unh.edu%2Fhonors%2F103&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages
Saad, L. (2015). Americans' coffee consumption is steady; few want to cut back. Gallup . Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/184388/americans-coffee-consumption-steady-few-cut-back.aspx
Statista. (2019). Coffee consumption in the U.S. 2013/14-2018/19. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/804271/domestic-coffee-consumption-in-the-us/
