Coffee Creates Mental Alertness

The United States Military completed testing that shows soldiers who are sleep deprived because of overnight missions can benefit from caffeine gum. It has been measured that around 100 mg of caffeine is in every 6 oz cup of coffee, and each piece of gum has just that amount to mimick drinking coffee. Sometimes a soldier is on a mission that removes the chance that a he could make a cup of coffee, so caffeine in a stick of gum seems to be quite the hot ticket. Could you imagine brewing a cup of coffee on the battlefield? However, a stick of gum could easily be popped in the mouth and chewed.


Stay Alert gum was tested as safe because soldiers who were given the gum not only stayed awake through the night, but they were also able to fall asleep just as fast as if they had not takent the gum. There were no adverse effects because one used the Stay Alert gum.

All in all, caffeine was found by the U.S. military to increase alertness and increase markmanship on the battlefield and off the battlefield.


In studies investigating the causes of drivers dozing off while at the wheel, it was suggested that coffee be consumed to prevent one from prematurely dozing off. The U.S. military found coffee to be an effective solution to the need for sleep when one needs to be wide awake, civilian research shows coffee could be one of many solutions to driving. However, it is suggested that one only drive for an additional 2 hours after drinking coffee.

Using caffeine as an alertness aid, was found to work for about 12 hours, but after that time, it was found that a soldier should sleep. Accompanied with the caffeine dose, a 2 hour nap at 1:00 pm (13:00 hours) can help one stay up through the night on a night shift. Also, a second dose of 200 mg caffeine (2 cups of coffee) can help one stay awake through the following day.

Caffeine (coffee) remains to be an effective pharmological agent to increase alertness and maintain periods of normal sleep and also during the day.

Couple the beneficial effects of caffeine with the good taste of Kona Coffee, and you might actually enjoy staying up through the night on the night shift!

U.S. Military article on Caffeine and Mental Alertnes

Article that shows caffeine is a way to create mental alertness while driving

Detailed analysis of the effects of caffeine on mental alertness