It’s no secret that college students love caffeine. But when they mix alcohol with energy drinks, the combination could be dangerous.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine released research this month about the health effects that occur when alcohol and energy drinks are mixed together.
The study shows that people double their risk of being hurt, injured, requiring medical attention, driving with an intoxicated driver, being taken advantage of sexually or taking advantage of another sexually.
“Only the symptoms of drunkenness are reduced but not the drunkenness. They can’t tell if they’re drunk,” said Mary Claire O’Brien, lead researcher for the study.
Since caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant, they counteract each other, which makes people not realize how much alcohol theyhave ingested.
“The BAC [Blood Alcohol Concentration] is still the same, but the effects are being masked by the caffeine,” said Vanessa Richard, Wellness Education dietitian.
But when the caffeine wears off, Richard said the person will feel the full effects of the alcohol.
O’Brien’s findings from the 4,000 person survey of college students revealed that students are combining the two so they can drink more and stay out longer without feeling the effects.
The danger lies in the increased amount of alcohol that people drink, assuming they have not yet reached a dangerous level. Richard said it may lead to people making decisions they normally would not such as driving drunk.
The relatively new combination has become popular among the University’s students.
“It’s probably my favorite thing to drink,” said Brad Jenkins, psychology junior.
This drink is not popular only around campus. Mixing caffeine and alcohol is known to have grown in the past years nationwide with the onset of energy drinks’ popularity.
“I was in college not that long ago, and it is popular for students to mix energy drinks with alcohol while they’re drinking,” Richard said. “It is popular for college-age students around the country and at LSU.”
Fred Geary, manager of The Chimes Restaurant and Tap Room, said he has not seen any problems resulting from the mix of caffeine and alcohol.
“I haven’t seen any complaints or seen any problems. I know at the Varsity it’s different because it’s a club atmosphere. At The Chimes, it’s not that noticeable.”
The possible risk that accompanies the mix of caffeine and alcohol does not seem to deter people from asking for the drink.
“You have to try new stuff sometimes,” said Steven Baumann, music freshman.
The mix, however, has not caught on with all students.
“I heard about it, but I haven’t tried it because it’s dangerous to mix energy drinks with alcohol,” said J.R. Hunter, music freshman. You don’t want to go too far.”
—-Contact Ellen Fargason [email protected]