Drinking an energy drink mixed with alcohol is riskier for health than drinking alcohol alone, researchers find.
Energy drinks have grown in popularity, especially among the teenagers and young adults in the United States. Though alcohol consumption has declined in the country over the last few years, researchers of a new study found that young adults have adopted an even more dangerous drinking habit, according to a press release.
Cocktails have always been a favorite for young partygoers. The most recent trend includes mixing alcohol with energy drinks. Though many perceive this to be safer, as the concentration of alcohol is less, researchers from the University of Michigan found that it is even more dangerous than drinking alcohol alone.
Teenagers who consume such cocktails are not only vulnerable to blackouts, strokes and alcohol poisoning, but also put communities and neighborhoods at risk while driving under the influence of these cocktails, crossing roads while partially conscious and being "wide awake drunk" after a night of partying.
"We found that college students tended to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they used both energy drinks and alcohol, compared to days they only used alcohol," said Megan Patrick of the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research in a press statement.
For the study, researchers interviewed 62 college students over four semesters. During four two-week periods, the students were asked questions about their energy drinks and alcohol consumptions and if they faced any negative consequences because of their drinking habits. This included hangovers the following days and getting into trouble in class or with their neighbors.
"Our findings suggest that the use of energy drinks and alcohol together may lead to heavier drinking and more serious alcohol-related problems," Patrick said. "As energy drinks become more and more popular, we should think about prevention strategies for reducing the negative consequences of using energy drinks and of combining energy drinks with alcohol."