Mormon-owned BYU OKs sale of caffeinated soda
PROVO, UTAH » Mormon church- owned Brigham Young University ended a six- decade ban Thursday on the sale of caffeinated soft drinks on campus, surprising students by posting a picture of a can of Coca-Cola on Twitter and just two words: “It’s happening.”
The move sparked social media celebrations from current and former students, with many recalling how they had hauled their own 2-liter bottles of caffeinated sodas in their backpacks to keep awake for long study sessions.
The university never banned having caffeinated drinks on campus, but held firm to the ban on sales even when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 2012 clarified that church health practices do not prevent members from drinking caffeinated soft drinks.
The ban has been in place since the mid-1950s. But officials with the school of 33,000 students in Provo, Utah, said Thursday that increasing demand prompted the change.
Students were abuzz about a change that meant they’ll no longer have to make off-campus runs to load up on their favorite caffeinated sodas to jolt their sleep-deprived brains.
“It’s about time,” said Sara McLaws, a junior advertising and graphic design major from Park City, Utah. “BYU is a great school but it’s behind in someways. Just the small change of allowing caffeinated beverages — because it’s not against our religion — it’s high time.”
As cafeteria workers stocked refrigerators in the student center food court with caffeinated Diet Coke, Coca-Cola and Mr. Pibb, students joked about it being the “best day ever.
“I absolutely love it. It’s been a big game changer, even just day one,” said Mckay Murphy, a junior statistics major from Springville, Utah. “I’m a really big fan of caffeine and just soda in general so it’s nice to have it on campus with easy access.”
Caffeinated soft drinks also will be sold at sporting events that draw tens of thousands of fans. Sales of highly caffeinated energy drinks are still banned.
The Utah-based Mormon religion directs its nearly 16 million worldwide members to avoid alcohol and hot beverages such as coffee and tea as part of an 1833 revelation from Mormon founder Joseph Smith.