Mixing caffeine-laden energy drinks and alcohol leads to higher rates of drunkenness and impaired driving.
Mixing caffeine-laden energy drinks and alcohol leads to higher rates of drunkenness and impaired driving.
There's a very common misconception that if you drink caffeine with an alcoholic beverage, the stimulant effect of the caffeine counteracts the depressant effect of the alcohol. To assess associations between energy drink consumption, alcohol intoxication, and driving, researchers surveyed 802 American college-going patrons leaving bars between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. The participants were asked about their energy drink and alcohol consumption and then had their breath-alcohol concentration (BrAC) levels measured.
The 6.5 percent of participants who said they'd been drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks were three times more likely to be drunk (BrAC = 0.08 g of alcohol / 210 litres of breath) than those who consumed alcohol only. The average BrAC for those who consumed alcohol and energy drinks was 0.109. It was also found that bar patrons who mixed alcohol and energy drinks left the bar later, drank for longer periods of time, and were four times more likely to say they planned to drive within the hour, compared to those who drank alcohol only.
This study shows that mixing energy drinks with alcohol can lead to risky behaviour including faulty driving in the US.
There's a very common misconception that if you drink caffeine with an alcoholic beverage, the stimulant effect of the caffeine counteracts the depressant effect of the alcohol. To assess associations between energy drink consumption, alcohol intoxication, and driving, researchers surveyed 802 American college-going patrons leaving bars between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. The participants were asked about their energy drink and alcohol consumption and then had their breath-alcohol concentration (BrAC) levels measured.
The 6.5 percent of participants who said they'd been drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks were three times more likely to be drunk (BrAC = 0.08 g of alcohol / 210 litres of breath) than those who consumed alcohol only. The average BrAC for those who consumed alcohol and energy drinks was 0.109. It was also found that bar patrons who mixed alcohol and energy drinks left the bar later, drank for longer periods of time, and were four times more likely to say they planned to drive within the hour, compared to those who drank alcohol only.
This study shows that mixing energy drinks with alcohol can lead to risky behaviour including faulty driving in the US.
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