In recent years, the practice of mixing energy drinks with alcohol has become increasingly popular, especially among young adults. This trend, often seen in social settings like bars, clubs, and parties, raises significant health and safety concerns. The combination can mask the physical manifestations of intoxication, leading to a higher risk of alcohol poisoning and other dangerous behaviors. Understanding the science behind this mix and its implications is crucial for both consumers and those responsible for selling and serving alcohol.
The Science Behind Mixing Energy Drinks and Alcohol
Energy drinks typically contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants, such as taurine, guarana, and ginseng. These ingredients are designed to enhance alertness, improve physical performance, and reduce fatigue. In contrast, alcohol is a depressant that slows down the central nervous system, impairing cognitive and motor functions.
When energy drinks and alcohol are consumed together, the stimulants in the energy drinks counteract the sedative effects of alcohol. This can lead to a state where individuals feel more alert and less intoxicated than they actually are, which can result in excessive alcohol consumption.
Masking Physical Manifestations of Intoxication
One of the most concerning aspects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol is how it conceals the typical signs of drunkenness. Normally, as alcohol levels rise in the bloodstream, individuals exhibit signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech, impaired coordination, and decreased reaction time. These signs serve as natural indicators to both the drinker and those around them, including bartenders and servers, that it may be time to stop drinking.
However, the stimulating effects of energy drinks can mask these physical manifestations. A person who has consumed both energy drinks and alcohol may still exhibit a high energy level, coherent speech, and coordinated movements, despite having a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC). This false sense of sobriety can encourage continued drinking and make it challenging for others to recognize when someone has had too much.
Implications for Responsible Alcohol Service
The difficulty in identifying intoxication due to the masking effects of energy drinks presents a significant challenge for those tasked with serving alcohol responsibly. Bartenders, servers, and other alcohol vendors rely on behavioral and other visual cues to determine whether a patron is intoxicated and should be cut off from further alcohol service. When these cues are obscured, it becomes harder to assess a patron's true level of impairment.
This difficulty not only increases the risk of overserving alcohol but also heightens the likelihood of patrons engaging in risky behaviors, such as drunk driving, aggressive behavior, and vandalism. Additionally, establishments that fail to prevent overserving may face legal repercussions, including fines, the loss of their liquor licenses, and damages to injured third parties.
Health Risks and Legal Considerations
The health risks associated with mixing energy drinks and alcohol are well documented. Studies have shown that individuals who combine these substances are more likely to binge drink, which can lead to alcohol poisoning, blackouts, and long-term health issues, such as liver damage and cardiovascular problems. The stimulant effects of caffeine can also cause dehydration and increased heart rate, compounding the risks associated with heavy alcohol consumption. The health impact of other active ingredients other than caffeine in energy drinks, especially their combined effect with alcohol, remains largely unknown with little research in progress.
From a legal perspective, the sale and service of alcohol carry a responsibility to ensure that patrons are not served to the point of intoxication. In many jurisdictions, laws require servers to refuse service to visibly intoxicated individuals. The challenge of recognizing intoxication when energy drinks are involved complicates this duty and can result in legal liabilities for establishments.
Conclusion
The combination of energy drinks and alcohol presents a dangerous and complex challenge. The stimulants in energy drinks can mask the physical manifestations of intoxication, leading to excessive drinking and increased risk-taking behaviors. For those responsible for serving alcohol, this masking effect makes it difficult to assess patrons' true levels of impairment and uphold their duty to serve responsibly.
Understanding the science behind this combination and its implications is essential for both consumers and those in the alcohol service industry. Education and awareness can play pivotal roles in mitigating the risks associated with this trend. Patrons should be informed of the dangers, and alcohol servers should receive training on recognizing the subtle signs of intoxication that may still be present despite the influence of energy drinks. By addressing this issue proactively, we can work toward safer drinking environments and better health outcomes for all.
For further insight about this issue, please see:
- Verster JC, Benson S, Johnson SJ, Alford C, Godefroy SB, Scholey A. Alcohol mixed with energy drink (AMED): A critical review and meta-analysis. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp. 2018;33(2):e2650. doi:10.1002/hup.2650
- Nadeem IM, Shanmugaraj A, Sakha S, Horner NS, Ayeni OR, Khan M. Energy Drinks and Their Adverse Health Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Health. 2021;13(3):265-277. doi:10.1177/1941738120949181
- Forward J, Akhurst J, Bruno R, et al. Nature versus intensity of intoxication: Co-ingestion of alcohol and energy drinks and the effect on objective and subjective intoxication. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;180:292-303. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.08.013
- Sefen JAN, Patil JD, Cooper H. The implications of alcohol mixed with energy drinks from medical and socio-legal standpoints. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022;16:968889. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2022.968889
Stephen Barth is an attorney, the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com®, and a professor of law and leadership at the Conrad Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership.
Co-authors:
Bruce J. Kelman, PhD, DABT, ATS, ERT is the Senior Vice President and Senior Technical Fellow in Toxicology at J.S. Held. With over 40 years of experience, he is a certified toxicologist and a registered toxicologist with both the United Kingdom and EUROTOX registries.
Jun Wang, PhD, DABT is a Toxicologist in Environmental, Health & Safety at J.S. Held. With expertise in computational toxicology and microbiology, he has over a decade of experience in toxicological risk assessment. Dr. Wang holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee.
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