With the College Scholastic Ability Test exactly one month away, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued a formal warning on October 20, 2026, urging students to strictly monitor and limit their daily caffeine intake to avoid adverse health effects during exam preparation.
Ministry Warns Students on Exam Caffeine Limits
As teenagers lean heavily on caffeinated beverages and snacks to combat fatigue during late-night study sessions, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety cautioned that a single commercial coffee can easily surpass a student’s entire daily recommended limit, news.sbs.co.kr reported. Government guidelines state that the safe upper limit for children and adolescents is 2.5 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight.
Under these official thresholds, a student weighing 50 kilograms should consume no more than 125 milligrams of caffeine daily. A student weighing 60 kilograms has a limit of 150 milligrams, while a 70-kilogram student tops out at 175 milligrams. For comparison, adult guidelines sit much higher at 400 milligrams, with pregnant women advised to stay under 300 milligrams.
Caffeine Content Across Common Study Snacks
Popular energy boosters vary widely in their concentration levels, making it easy for students to unintentionally overconsume. According to reference data provided by regulatory authorities, a 355-milliliter Americano from a standard coffee shop contains roughly 150 milligrams of caffeine, which single-handedly maxes out the daily recommendation for a 60-kilogram teenager.
| Item | Serving Size | Caffeine Content |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Shop Americano | 355 ml | 150 mg |
| Packaged Coffee Drink | 250 ml | 103 mg |
| Energy Jelly | 20 g | 100 mg |
| Energy Drink | 250 ml | 80 mg |
Beyond coffee and energy drinks, hidden sources of caffeine lurk in chocolate, tea, cola, and specialized energy jellies. Regulators advise students to calculate their total cumulative intake across all food and beverage categories rather than tracking coffee alone.
Regulatory Enforcement and Health Risks
Excessive consumption frequently triggers acute physical symptoms, including heart palpitations, severe headaches, persistent anxiety, and debilitating sleep disruptions. When these side effects manifest, health authorities recommend cutting back immediately or eliminating caffeine entirely.
To curb adolescent overconsumption at the retail level, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety currently bans high-caffeine products across all schools and designated excellent child-food-store outlets. Inspectors actively monitor approximately 78,000 convenience stores, libraries, and study cafes frequented by teenagers to display warning notices regarding safe caffeine limits. Minister of Food and Drug Safety Oh Yu-kyung noted during a parliamentary audit on October 13 that implementing broader regulatory restrictions on high-caffeine products for minors represents a timely measure under active government review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific physical symptoms indicate a student has consumed too much caffeine?
Health regulators note that overconsumption typically triggers heart palpitations, severe headaches, heightened anxiety, and noticeable sleep disturbances.
How many retail locations are currently targeted for caffeine warning notices?
Authorities monitor approximately 78,000 locations heavily frequented by students, including convenience stores, local libraries, and private study cafes.
The ministry’s advisory arrives exactly thirty days before the nationwide university entrance examinations begin.
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