High-energy carbonated soft drinks that contain large amount amounts of caffeine have become big business in the last few years. Between 31 and 34 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds drink energy drinks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carbonated alcoholic beverages combine energy drinks with alcohol; the popularity of these drinks has grown tremendously, with nearly 23 million gallons consumed in 2008. The combined effect of caffeine and alcohol on the brain and other organs can be significant.
Ingredient's Effects
In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the use of beverages high in caffeine and alcohol. The products, however, remain on the market in 2011. Some of the drinks in question come in 23-oz. cans containing as much as 260 mg of caffeine and 12 percent alcohol, compared to beer, which is 5 percent alcohol. A single can contains the same amount of alcohol as four regular or five light beers, PhysOrg reports. For comparison purposes, a 12-oz. can of coke contains 34 mg of caffeine. Caffeine acts as a stimulant, causing jitteriness, alertness, irritability and headaches. Alcohol, a depressant, causes sleepiness, slowed thinking and impaired motor coordination.
Masked Depressant Effects
When mixed together, alcohol and caffeine do not cancel out each other's side effects. The caffeine in carbonated alcoholic drinks appears to delay the effects and the awareness of drinking too much. Since the person drinking doesn't get feedback telling him he's impaired, he drinks more. Since the sleepiness that often accompanies alcoholic drinking is also delayed, a person may drink past the time he might normally have stopped to "sleep it off." People who drink these beverages are three times more likely to binge drink and drink more than people who drink other beverages, according to the CDC.
Increased Absorption
Although people drinking carbonated alcohol beverages may not feel drunk, the caffeine does not slow alcohol absorption. In fact, if you drink carbonated drinks containing caffeine and alcohol, the carbonation may force alcohol out of the stomach and into the bloodstream and brain even faster than normal.
Increased Dehydration
Both alcohol and caffeine both cause diuresis, or increased fluid loss through urine. Diuresis can lead to dehydration, which impairs the body's ability to process alcohol. The combination of the two drugs may also impair the brain's ability to regulate body temperature and may also cause worse hangover symptoms when the caffeine wears off.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- "New York Times:" Caffeine and Alcohol Drink is Potent Mix for the Young; Oct. 26, 2010
- Health Services at Columbia: Mixing energy Drinks with Alcohol: Safe or Risky?
- Princeton University Health Services: Alcohol
- Food Safety News: FDA: Caffeine and Alcohol Don't Mix
- PhysOrg: Why Mixing Alcohol and Caffeine is so Deadly
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