Don't get mixed up!
Colleen D'Agnese
Issue date: 4/29/10 Section: Campus News
There's nothing like getting a boost of energy to start your night out by adding a little caffeine into your alcoholic beverage. It seems harmless. As college students, the majority of us consume coffee, soda, or other caffeinated drinks like it's our job. So why would it not be okay to drink a Vodka Red Bull to get some "wings"?
First of all, what is considered a "little" amount of caffeine? The International Food Information Council Foundation says 300 mg per day is considered moderate caffeine consumption. Energy drinks contain a wide range of caffeine amounts from Red Bull's 80 mg to Rockstar's 330 mg. It's important to be aware of the caffeine amounts in the energy drink you're consuming, especially when you drink multiple energy drink cocktails throughout the night. This is where trouble happens.
Energy drinks can be consumed safely when one monitors their caffeine intake. However, mixing energy drinks with alcohol is a completely different story that unfortunately doesn't always have a happy ending. Energy drinks are classified as stimulants, a class of drugs that enhance brain activity, according to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Alcohol on the other hand, is a depressant drug, meaning it slows down brain function. Mixing these "uppers" and "downers" can have harmful side effects.
Cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular failures are examples of how serious these side effects can be. There are also reports of higher rates of drunkenness.
"College-age drinkers who swill alcoholic energy-drink cocktails are three times more likely than alcohol-only drinkers to leave a bar drunk," says Bill Hendrick, reporter for WebMD Health News.
There is also the "wide awake and drunk" condition where the person thinks he or she is less drunk because he or she is more awake. This condition can be linked to riskier behaviors, such as drinking and driving. University of Florida researchers found that people drinking alcoholic energy drink cocktails are four times more likely to drive.
Mixing alcohol with energy drinks not only affects your health, but also your safety. So if you want to get "wings" next time you go out drinking, pass on the Vodka Red Bull and consider getting the chicken wings instead. You can never go wrong with Honey Mustard!
First of all, what is considered a "little" amount of caffeine? The International Food Information Council Foundation says 300 mg per day is considered moderate caffeine consumption. Energy drinks contain a wide range of caffeine amounts from Red Bull's 80 mg to Rockstar's 330 mg. It's important to be aware of the caffeine amounts in the energy drink you're consuming, especially when you drink multiple energy drink cocktails throughout the night. This is where trouble happens.
Energy drinks can be consumed safely when one monitors their caffeine intake. However, mixing energy drinks with alcohol is a completely different story that unfortunately doesn't always have a happy ending. Energy drinks are classified as stimulants, a class of drugs that enhance brain activity, according to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Alcohol on the other hand, is a depressant drug, meaning it slows down brain function. Mixing these "uppers" and "downers" can have harmful side effects.
Cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular failures are examples of how serious these side effects can be. There are also reports of higher rates of drunkenness.
"College-age drinkers who swill alcoholic energy-drink cocktails are three times more likely than alcohol-only drinkers to leave a bar drunk," says Bill Hendrick, reporter for WebMD Health News.
There is also the "wide awake and drunk" condition where the person thinks he or she is less drunk because he or she is more awake. This condition can be linked to riskier behaviors, such as drinking and driving. University of Florida researchers found that people drinking alcoholic energy drink cocktails are four times more likely to drive.
Mixing alcohol with energy drinks not only affects your health, but also your safety. So if you want to get "wings" next time you go out drinking, pass on the Vodka Red Bull and consider getting the chicken wings instead. You can never go wrong with Honey Mustard!
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
sarah
posted 4/30/10 @ 1:39 PM EST
great job collen! :)
Kristie
posted 5/03/10 @ 11:52 AM EST
THIS ARTICLE IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!! The writing is not only executed flawlessly but the topic is creative and original! I do enjoy receiving "wings" while I drink. (Continued…)
Danny
Danny
posted 8/12/10 @ 12:32 AM EST
haha so i choose chicke wings too then :D
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