High Energy Drink Consumption Linked to Alcohol Dependence
The energy drink phenomenon may have started innocent enough; high functioning individuals wanted a way to keep going without consuming coffee all day long. The problem emerged when manufacturers started mixing alcohol with energy drinks and produced a whole new type of fix.
A Psych Central report highlights that this is a growing problem that can easily get out of hand. Whether individuals are mixing alcohol with energy drinks, or buying them mixed already, the two working together can put an individual at risk.
There are two problems that quickly arise. For one, energy drinks are not regulated and therefore, manufacturers can put any amount of caffeine in them they desire to help drive demand.
Second, research in this area indicates that individuals who consume a high number of energy drinks are at a statistically higher risk for alcohol dependence of heavy drinking episodes.
One study author noted that researchers did control for risk-taking characteristics to determine if energy drink consumption was still associated with alcohol dependence. They determined that the relationship persisted and energy drink use is associated with an increased risk of alcohol dependence.
In studying college students, these researchers determined that those who consumed energy drinks at a high frequency were more likely to get drunk at an earlier age. These individuals were also more likely to drink more per drinking session and to develop alcohol dependence compared to those who did not use energy drinks or used them infrequently.
An additional concern is the “wide-awake drunkenness” created when individuals consume both alcohol and energy drinks. They feel less drunk than they actually are and will consume more alcohol to make up the difference.
