With new caffeine limits set by the district and a new Coca-Cola contract, the school coffee shop is facing some tough decisions as it redefines what students can sip this year.
At the start of the 2025 school year, The Spot, the student-run store at BV West, encountered its first major shakeup. A new rule limited the caffeine content in beverages sold on school grounds, cutting the maximum from 200 milligrams to just 100.
“I was originally upset, due to thinking students would be upset,” said school store coffee manager junior Sage Brown.
For a store built on keeping students energized, that rule hit hard. Within weeks, The Spot had to pull two of its most popular energy drinks off the shelves: Celsius and Alani Nu.
The new caffeine limit is part of the district’s effort to align with the USDA Smart Snack Guidelines, which set national standards for nutrition in school-based stores and vending machines. These rules aim to encourage healthier choices for students, restricting beverage size, calories, sugar, and caffeine content.
Under these guidelines, flavored waters must be calorie-free and under 20 ounces, while energy drinks must stay under the new 100-milligram caffeine cap, a rule that eliminates the two most popular brands sold at the store.
For The Spot’s coffee team, the changes have turned into a real-world business challenge. They’ve had to learn how to adapt to regulations, manage contracts, and respond to customer demand.
“We have faced a few challenges, but we have to persevere,” said Brown. “It took the coffee team a while to find new drinks that our student base would enjoy.”
In October, The Spot faced a new challenge: a contract with Heartland Coca-Cola, a regional supplier that manages beverage contracts for schools across the Blue Valley district. The agreement gives The Spot access to Coca-Cola-owned beverages yet limits The Spot’s ability to buy other drinks that aren’t from Coca-Cola.
“We were told we can still sell coffee, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions,” said school store advisor Tyler Dickerson.
With two best-selling drinks gone, The Spot’s coffee team began experimenting with replacements that could still draw interest. Options like mini Alani Nu, Bubblr, and Red Bull offer lower caffeine content.
Student reactions have been mixed.
“I understand it being less than 200 milligrams of caffeine, but I don’t understand why it needs to be 100 milligrams or less,” said junior Maddie Edwards.
Others, however, see the new lineup as a positive change.
“I think it is reasonable as someone who is a frequent energy drink and coffee user,” said sophomore Scarlett Weiss.
The Spot’s team is using sales data and student surveys to figure out what to do next. They’ve noticed flavored sparkling waters and low-sugar drinks are gaining popularity, while high-caffeine options are slowly fading from demand.
The new caffeine rule doesn’t just affect The Spot; it’s part of a broader shift across schools nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that energy drink consumption among teens has more than doubled in the past decade, raising concerns about caffeine dependence and health risks.
District officials say these new rules aren’t meant to punish students but to promote long-term wellness.
“While this is not an official policy, the district uses this guideline to inform decisions about beverages sold in cafeterias and encourages school stores to consider the same recommendation,” said Blue Valley District’s Director of Food and Nutrition Services Charles Rathbun.
For The Spot, future plans include rotating seasonal drink menus, more drink options, and add-ons like gum, hand sanitizers, and Chapstick.
“I would like students to understand that this policy exists due to the district office, and not due to the faculty at our school,” said Brown.
Whether The Spot’s new drink lineup will fuel excitement or fizzle out under stricter standards is uncertain, but for now, The Spot is keeping its coolers full and its ideas flowing.