Buzzed: Tampa Bay is No. 2 most caffeinated

TAMPA -- Jittery? Alert? Makes sense. The Tampa Bay area is one of the most caffeinated cities in America, according to a new study published today.

The study, conducted by the discount health care service HealthSaver, determined the coffee consumption and caffeine consumer habits in 20 major American cities, placing the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area second in the nation, behind Chicago.

How did the Tampa Bay area, a region no known for its coffeehouse culture, rank near the top? According to the survey, we drain lots of caffeinated teas and down caffeinated pain relievers. We're no. 2 in consuming both. We're fifth in soda consumption.

"We have a lot of exercisers and old people here," said Dr. Laurel Graham, a University of South Florida
sociology professor. "Plus, there's long commutes."

Todd Smith, a HealthSaver spokesman, said the study, which surveyed about 100 people in each of the 20 cities, shows that responsible caffeine intake can have positive effects. Health benefits range from protecting cirrhosis of the liver to preventing Parkinson's disease, Smith said.

He also said the results show a boost in consumption of high-end coffees and sodas, revealing an "American fascination" with caffeine.

"Obviously, we are a fast-paced, gridlocked, stressed-out society," Smith said. "It's a vivid reflection of our culture."

The study considered numerous sources of caffeine, including coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks, chocolate, pain relievers and caffeine pills. Not surprisingly, the Seattle/Tacoma area, home to Starbucks, ranked tops in the most coffee consumption.

The least caffeinated? San Francisco/Oakland, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit and Baltimore.

Despite widespread caffeine use, the survey says most American citizens don't think they're addicted.
Bay area folks are the fifth-most likely to deny their caffeine addiction.

- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Comments

[Silly Person]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNO WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steven Tamayo]

i drink a lot of lipton tea packets green tea and white tea u put them in a bottled water... but they are much better than crystal light i got a blueberry flavor and its nasty it taste like eating 1000 blueberries

Is this really worth the ink...

Aren't we ranked like #2 or near the top for worst drivers too? Do you think we are to jittery to drive making us one of the worse drivers?

[Steve]

Vagina