April 16--Dallas --
A new study released today by a professor at Northern Kentucky University shows that drinking beverages containing caffeine and alcohol can be more dangerous than consuming alcohol alone.
Many of these energy drinks contain two to three times more caffeine than soda. Red Bull is an everyday drink for many, both for energy, and mixed with alcohol for a reviving cocktail.
"I like red bull on its own, and I like vodka, so why not mix them?" says Wayne Warren.
The new study released today shows proof that mixing a depressant and stimulant masks the effects of alcohol consumption.
Dawn Peoples is a nutritionist at Forest Park Medical Center and is very weary of people mixing alcohol and caffeine together.
"It's hard to for them to understand where their limit is because it's making them feel full of energy. They think let's go further, let's have more drinks," she says.
This causes the drinker to underestimate how drunk they really are, which can lead to risky behavior.
"And they're actually talking about putting a label on the Red Bulls and the Full Throttles: 'Do Not Mix with Alcohol'", says Peoples.
Chuck Kimbrell thinks that's a good idea. Today he's enjoying a few drinks with some friends, but is usually the one bartending. He says serving energy drinks mixed with alcohol makes him uneasy.
"You kind of have a hard time telling whether they're drinking too much or is it because of the Red Bull, says Kimbrell.
And as a server, he's held liable for what potentially could happen to a customer. It's a responsibility that he takes seriously.
"We can go to jail if they get out and they hurt somebody or they hurt themselves," he says.
But for other social drinkers, this new study is just another piece of information that won't change their beverage choices.
"Yeah I mean, there's so many studies out there that counteract each other so I would drink it, I'm going to drink what I like," says Warren.
Customers having the freedom to drink what they want will likely stay that way. The F-D-A's ban on pre-mixed caffeinated-alcoholic drinks will remain, but that will not prevent the sale of the separate ingredients like Red Bull and liquor that combined, could have dangerous side effects.
Peoples urges drinkers to be aware of these potential side effects and choose an alternative adult beverage to enjoy.
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