NPR reports that it's actually dangerous to mix alcohol with caffeinated drinks like Red Bull. Why? The University of Florida recently conducted a study showing that bar patrons who consumed energy drinks mixed with alcohol were three times more likely to leave the bar drunk and four times more willing to drive drunk; compared to patrons who drank alcohol alone.
So if you're a fan of Red Bull and vodka or Jager bombs, you could be more likely to make that call to a Phoenix DUI attorney over your buddy who was just pounding shots.
Researchers at the University of Florida interviewed approximately 800 randomly selected college-aged bar patrons leaving bars, who were questioned about how much alcohol and how much caffeine they consumed. They were then asked whether or not they were planning to drive home and were given a breath test to determine their blood-alcohol level.
The results of the study appear in the journal Addictive Behaviors. Another study done at Wake Forest University found that 28 percent of college drinkers try the combination of alcohol and caffeinated drinks in a typical month. Perhaps this is just the new trend among alcohol consumers, but it could lead to dangerous results.
Bruce Goldberger, a toxicology professor at the University of Florida and senior author of the new study, told NPR that caffeine gives people the illusion that they're less drunk than they actually are. He said, "They believe the stimulant effect counteracts the depressant effect of alcohol, but that's not what's going on."
Related Resources:
- Will the FDA Ban Alcoholic Energy Drinks? (FindLaw's Common Law blog)
- Drunk Driving FAQ (FindLaw)
- Phoenix DUI Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
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