Alcohol and Energy Drinks: A Potentially Dangerous Combination

By Jake McGowan ACSM-cPT
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Mixing alcohol and energy drinks has become increasingly prevalent in the bar scene of today as many people have the notion that the boosts of energy from products such as Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster, and others, counteract the negative effects of alcohol. However, research indicates that this combination only creates the illusion that one is not as drunk as he or she may truly be.

Alcohol is a depressant and it slows down brain functions and lowers inhibitions. It's use can increase blood pressure, dilate blood vessels (which in turn can increase heat loss), and can cause the heart to beat irregularly. Consuming alcohol causes the body to lose water, contributing to dehydration which in turn may result in a hangover is partaken excessively.

Energy drinks were created to give the user a boost of energy. According to the makers of Red Bull, just one example of an energy drink, it "vitalizes the body and mind. It improves performance and reaction time in moments of need." This purported ability to "vitalize" the body and mind is due to the ingestion of high levels of caffeine (80 mg/can in Red Bull) and other stimulants. These stimulants increase heart rate and blood pressure, causing palpations of the heart. Caffeine, like alcohol, is also a diuretic, causing your body to increase urine excretion, further leading to dehydration.

So what happens when you mix alcohol and energy drinks? Combining strong stimulants (caffeine or caffeine-like stimulants) with a strong depressant (such as alcohol) can cause cardiopulmonary and/or cardiovascular failures. Both substances contribute to a loss of coordination and balance, and reduce the body's ability to regulate temperature. Energy drinks can make drinkers feel more alert, allowing them to perceive themselves sober enough to drive, or perform other dangerous activities. These stimulants also keep drinkers awake longer, allowing them to drink for a longer period of time, putting them at further risk of alcohol poisoning. Also, since both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, the risk for dehydration is greater. Lack of water the following morning is one of the contributing factors to the dreaded hangover.

Another concern for students is the quantity of calories that are consumed with these mixed drinks. All hard liquors contain about 70-75 calories per ounce and many energy drinks contain around 110 calories per can. If you were to add a shot of standard vodka (1.5 oz) to a can of energy drink, that drink would contain approximately 223 calories. If you were to consume 4 of these in one night, that would be just under 900 calories!

The question is "Would you recommend to your friend that they mix alcohol and an energy drink, now knowing what could happen?" The answer has to be an emphatic "NO!" First, the likelihood of cardiovascular failure increases considerably and second, the resulting dehydration leads to impaired physiological function. Massive calorie ingestion is not conducive to a healthy diet in which excessive weight gain could easily result, and finally, just because mixing alcohol with an energy drink may make you feel more alert, you're still getting drunk.