The University of New Hampshire, on a mission to be the healthiest campus in the U.S. by 2020, has already done away with trans fats and saltshakers. On Monday, university officials announced a ban that incited a rash of online protests from students.
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UNH officials proposed a ban that would pull energy drinks from dining halls, vending machines and campus convenience stores, citing that Red Bull and other popular caffeine-infused drinks like Rockstar, Monster and Amp, can become a health risk when combined with alcohol or when they are consumed in large quantities.
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Within hours of the ban’s announcement, students took their objections to Facebook and Twitter, creating a prevalent movement that caused UNH President Mark Huddleston to reverse the ban later that day. “I want to make sure we respect our students’ ability to make informed choices about what they consume,” he said in a statement.
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College students have been a popular target of marketing techniques implemented by companies like Red Bull, who send teams out in droves to campuses nationwide to distribute everyone’s favorite study buddy.
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In response to the proposed ban, Red Bull issued a statement defending their product, which meets mandated federal safety requirements. Â
