Why have caffeinated beverages become a major industry?
A caffeinated beverage is a drink containing caffeine, a stimulant that is legal and common in most developed countries. Coffee and tea, that in one form or another (usually served hot but sometimes iced) appear in most world cultures, are the most popular naturally caffeinated beverages. As a part of their production process, many beverages are heavily caffeinated. These include some soft drinks (mainly cola drinks), as well as energy drinks intended as a stimulant, and perpetuating activity at times when the user may normally be asleep. The use of caffeinated drinks is often meant for the physical and mental effects of caffeine in whole or in part. For example, the consumption of tea or coffee with breakfast in many Westernized cultures to 'wake up' or the intentional intake of energy drinks by night-time students, or revelers trying to maintain a vigilant behavior during social recreation. If ingested in excessive amounts, however, caffeine can cause physical dep...