It’s a feeling almost every student knows: a head on the desk, eyes slowly drooping only to jolt back open and the desperate feeling to get back a grasp on the lecture before it’s too late. Unsurprisingly, staying awake during long classes or simply being in a perky mood for the majority of the school day can feel impossible. In response, Lakers have found a solution that raises debate: energy drinks. Despite health concerns, caffeinated drinks are extremely popular at school, and it’s no surprise to find vibrantly colored cans in classrooms throughout the day.

The popularity of energy drinks isn’t new—convenience stores, the primary retail source in the energy drink market, have seen steadily rising sales for the past decade, including a 10% growth this year alone. Within the vast range of brands, these drinks are advertised with bright colors and fun flavors, luring customers into the fun packaging and promise of artificial alertness. Although effective in waking up a sleepy student, energy drinks are facing undeniable pushback. Caffeine brings several health concerns, including insomnia, feelings of anxiety or nervousness, rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure. The caffeine amounts in energy drinks range from 70 milligrams to 300 milligrams, while teenagers are recommended to consume less than 100 milligrams a day. Even if a student drinks only one can, their caffeine intake can vastly differ from what is recommended.

So how much do Lakers really enjoy their caffeine? When surveyed, 45 percent of students said that they drink energy drinks, some only rarely, while others admitted to drinking more than one a day. Favorite drinks were narrowed down to brands like Monster, Redbull and Alani, with peach being a standout flavor choice across brands. Those who don’t indulge in the buzz attribute it to several reasons, some of which are health concerns, strict parents or just an unsavory flavor.

The decision can be difficult. Trading future potential health risks for a focus and mood booster can be hard to resist. Ultimately, energy drinks can be helpful in the short-term, but maybe think of the long-term effects before reaching for the second drink of the day.