Mixing Caffeine and Alcohol

Mixing Caffeine and Alcohol

Have you done this? What if you overdid it?

          Energy drinks with high levels of caffeine are becoming more and more popular, especially with college students. A new fad among students is using these energy drinks as a “chaser” for their alcohol or using them to make mixed drinks. Drinks like Red Bull, Monster and NOS are a couple of the more popular drinks. Students make these mix drinks to counteract the fatigue that comes along with consuming alcohol. Although these drinks may feel like they are “keeping you going,” they are in fact doing the opposite to your body.  Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it dehydrates you. That along with the dehydrating effects of alcohol will make your hangovers worse and increase the chances of alcohol poisoning (Keith Cambrel). The tired feeling you get after drinking is a mental reminder that it is time to put the drink down. That reminder will fail if you consume too much caffeine, endangering your ability to know when it is time to stop, possibly endangering your life in the process.

 Caffeine is a stimulant while alcohol is a depressant. Many people believe the false notion that these two drugs will cancel each other out when consumed together.  In reality, people that do this will feel the impairing affects of alcohol while also experiencing the rush of caffeine (Linda Shrieves). This means that your brain will make connections slower while your body will execute your actions faster. Basically, you will have more energy to make more stupid drunk decisions then if you consumed alcohol alone.....Stay tuned for more of alcohol and caffeine's effects!

Cambrel, Keith. "Mixing Alcohol & Energy Drinks May Spell Disaster." Mixing Alcohol & Energy Drinks May Spell Disaster. Collegiate Times, Web.

Shrieves, Linda. "Why Mixing Alcohol and Caffeine Is so Deadly." Orlando Sentinel. N.p., 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 

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