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By Shawn Dwyer
12/17/13
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In a study published in the Journal of Adolescent
Health, researchers at the Institute for Social
Research at the University of Michigan have
concluded that mixing alcohol and energy drinks
poses a serious public health risk, especially
among college students. "We found that college
students tended to drink more heavily, become
more intoxicated, and have more negative
drinking consequences on days they used both
energy drinks and alcohol, compared to days they
only used alcohol," said Megan Patrick, a
research assistant professor and co-author of the
study.
According to the study, students who either drank alcohol and energy
drinks on the same day or who combined the two at the same time
wound up spending more time drinking thus consuming more
alcohol than they would have without the caffeinated drinks. The
result of spending more hours drinking raised users' blood alcohol
levels to higher peaks. But because of the stimulant effects of the
energy drinks, the users reported that they felt less drunk than they
actually were. "This can have serious potential health impacts, for
example if people don't realize how intoxicated they actually are and
decide to drive home," Patrick said.
But a similar study conducted by the Department of Community
Health at the Boston University School of Public Health found that it
wasnt necessarily the combination of alcohol and caffeine that posed
a risk, but the profile of the drinkers themselves that led to negative consequences. "It appears that
the consumption of caffeinated alcoholic beverages has a direct effect on increasing risk by masking
intoxication and making it easier for youth to consume more alcohol, said Dr. Michael Siegel, one of
the authors of the Boston Universitys study. It also appears that consumption of alcohol with
caffeine may itself be a marker for youth who engage in riskier behavior.
TAGS: alcohol energy drinks college drinkers research study J ournal of Adolescent Health
University of Michigan Boston University News Shawn Dwyer
Alcohol and Energy Drinks A
Dangerous Combo, Study Says
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62 Comments


Nokturrduk84
Those energy drinks should be banned in general.



Mung'etheri Mutongoria
One thing we need to ask is .....if this drinks are that bad as written here ....where is
Bureaus of standard the body which is mandate to prevent unhealthy product....



Tzen
Why? They're no stronger than coffee. The fad with mixing energy drinks with
alcohol is no different from having an Irish coffee.


vinylgroover
Red Bull is far more "drinkable" than coffee, if you're out clubbing you would
probably consume more Red Bull than you would coffee. The dehydration
resulting from a heavy coffee-intake is not something you would be able to
ignore, while as with the red-bull/alcohol combo the dehydration wouldn't be
that limiting to your body on a short term..



gazarow
if you notice on the can it says RDA (recommended daily allowance) the
problem is the youngsters aren't drinking one can daily, but several cans with
alcohol and this causes serious damage to your kidneys later in life..



BKK Guy
bull shit you are talking out of your ass.mixing red bull and vodka is very
dangerous, I have first hand experience how dangerous this mixture is.



Brad
Plenty of healthy adults are able to drink them responsibly and make informed
decisions. We don't need a nanny state.



George
yeah, start with coffee the worst of them all.



vinylgroover
If you drink your coffee in gallons it is..



sirbill05
Seems to be the drink of choice at NA meetings around here....and some AA meetings too.



Ndubuisi Samuel
2much of every tin is bad.


Tim
I have never engaged in drinking and i'm healthy. I do not see why these young men and

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Alcohol and Energy Drinks A Dangerous Combo, Study Says | The Fix http://www.thefix.com/content/alcohol-and-energy-drinks-dangerous-c...
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