Caffeine is one of the most popular drugs, with average consumption estimated to be 70mg per person per day (54% of this is from coffee, 43% from tea and 3% from other forms).
Caffeine is a psychoactive drug, meaning it alters mood, thinking and/or behaviour. Caffeine is also a stimulant drug. Stimulants increase the body’s state of arousal by speeding up the production of nerve impulses, which increases the activity of the brain.
In its purest form, caffeine consists of bitter-tasting crystals. It is found in many common substances like coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, cola-flavoured soft drinks and some medical preparations. In Australia, the consumption of energy drinks containing caffeine is increasing.