Last week, Middlebury College announced its decision to ban on-campus sales of energy drinks such as Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy. According to NBC News, Middlebury College officials say the drinks are responsible for “problematic behavior,” including alcohol abuse and “high-risk sexual activity” and contribute to a “campus culture of stress and unsustainable study habits.” The policy, which will take effect on March 7, does not affect sales of Guayaki Brand Yerba Mate, considered a healthier alternative to more popular energy drinks.
The Bowdoin C-Store—which sells Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, Spider, Body Armor and organic Runa energy drinks—does not plan to follow in Middlebury’s footsteps at the moment, according to Director of Dining and Bookstore Services Mary McAteer Kennedy. She acknowledged that energy drink sales increase during exam week when students are more likely to feel a need to sacrifice sleep for academics. However, according to Kennedy, overall energy drink sales at Bowdoin, which are limited to the C-Store, have gone down “considerably” over the past three or four years.