Caffeine Consumption Can Lead To Physical Dependence
Others may decide that the physical dependence that develops with habitual caffeine consumption is reason enough to quit. People who think that they can barely function in the morning until they have their coffee should recognize that they feel this way because they wake up in a state of drug withdrawal that includes symptoms of sleepiness, grogginess, and difficulty concentrating. People who don't drink coffee don't have these symptoms when they wake up. If a coffee-drinker quits, she or he won't suffer them any longer either.
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Caffeine is addictive. Period. Like alcohol it is O.K. in strict moderation. A rule of thumb should be to consume nothing that will become addictive and will be consumed to such an extent as to damage your health. Caffeine and alcohol clearly fit into that picture.
Food is addictive too. Try going without it. BTW, caffeine is not addictive for all people and to those that are addicted the withdrawal symptoms are mild compared to other addictive substances. I have quit for days at a time with no noticeable ill effects. The mere fact that something is addictive but harmless is not a reason for abstinence . All the studies that claimed to find health risks with coffee have been shot down by subsequent studies.
Yes, it can lead to physical dependence. So what? What people put in their bodies is THEIR PROBLEM!!! I can see a time coming in America when coffee falls out of favor with the "ruling class" and becomes criminalized, along with cigarettes and alcohol. Did we learn nothing from Prohibtion? As long as no one suffers an affront to life, liberty or property, there is NO CRIME!!! By that logic, we should outlaw all drug laws as they are an unconstitutional affront to all three of those things!!!
My role in this is to provide information about caffeine and its effects, so that people can make an educated and informed choice about what they "put in their bodies." People can't weight benefits vs. costs unless they know both. In this light, labeling commercial products with their added caffeine content would be helpful and not infringe on any rights to privacy.