Over the weekend another report warning drinkers of the side effects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol was released. The major concern is the drinker's ability to recognize how intoxicated they are because of the stimulating attributes of the overly caffeinated mixers. This most recent study, from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, says that the drinkers (in this study college students) may not think they are as drunk as they actually are because the stimulant masks the "sleepiness" factor of alcohol, leading to more drinking, longer parties and increasing the possibility of hurting themselves or others (drunk driving, sexual assault, etc).
To put the amount of caffeine into perspective...if you were to have a Whiskey & Coke (using a full can of soda) the caffeine intake would be 34.5mg, or 2.88mg/oz, whereas in a Vodka Red Bull (again using a full can of Red Bull) the caffeine would be 80mg, or 9.64mg/oz. That's a lot of caffeine in one drink and for as many Vodka Red Bulls and Jäger Bombs I've seen people down in one evening, it's no wonder they can go all night. Not only do the energy drinks contain an insane amount of caffeine and mask the effects of alcohol, but they dehydrate the body (which is something alcohol does already), so water is vital if you drink these.
More Energy Drink & Alcohol Resources:
- Energy Drink Mask Alcohol's Effects - from Buddy T, About.com Alcoholism Guide
- The Caffeine Database - from EnergyFiend.com
- Energy Drinks: What's Real, What's the Hype, What's the Problem? - from Healthline.com
Photo Credit: © Colleen Graham licensed to About.com
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