Using energy drinks as a mixer for alcohol has become a popular thing to do. Many young drinkers grab their favorite energy drink and liquor to create a sugary cocktail. While it may taste good, mixing energy drinks with alcohol may not be the safest concoction. Following, we are going to highlight some dangers of mixing these drinks and alcohol that you may want to consider…
Mixing Energy Drinks and Alcohol: Safe Mixers
You May Drink More
When mixing energy drinks with alcohol, the caffeine can make you more alert. That alertness can mask the actual symptoms of intoxication. Therefore, you may have several of these drinks, without feeling much and so, you’ll keep drinking. You could end up loading your system with alcohol before you even realize how intoxicated you’ve become. This can be dangerous because drinking too much, too quickly, can make you more likely to black out, become sick, or suffer from alcohol poisoning.
Side Effects of Caffeine
Because of the high amount of caffeine, energy drinks with alcohol can be dangerous. One energy drink contains about the same amount of caffeine as three cans of cola or cups of coffee. Like alcohol, people respond to caffeine differently.
Since these drinks are loaded with it, a person that doesn’t usually have much caffeine may experience a number of side effects. For example, some people feel anxious and suffer from panic attacks. The caffeine can speed up the heart rate and breathing, making someone feel as if something is very wrong. In addition, for those that already drink caffeine, mixing energy drinks as a cocktail may overload their system.
More Likely to Drink and Drive
Because mixing energy drinks can mask the symptoms of alcohol, you may be more likely to drink and drive. Since the caffeine keeps you feeling alert, it can trick you into thinking you are sober enough to drive. However, your BAC could still be well above the legal limit. So, it’s important to realize that mixing energy drinks with alcohol can be deceiving. Just because you feel okay, doesn’t mean you aren’t intoxicated.
