AED Consumption’s Association with Increased Risk of Harm
In a study of 802 patrons leaving bars in a college community, those who reported consuming caffeinated energy drinks were at a three times greater risk of being highly intoxicated and at a four times greater risk of intending to drive compared to other drinking patrons.
Thombs, et al. forthcoming. Event-level analyses of energy drink consumption and alcohol intoxication in
bar patrons. Addictive Behaviors
[Link to Journal Abstract]
A survey of 4,271 college students found that the 697 students who reported consumption of caffeinated alcoholic beverages had:
- Increased heavy episodic drinking ("bingeing": 6.4 days per month versus 3.4 days per month)
- Twice as many episodes of weekly drunkenness (1.4 days per week versus 0.73 days per week)
- 36% higher "greatest number of drinks in a single episode of drinking" (8.3 drinks versus 6.1 drinks)
The students consuming caffeinated alcoholic beverages alcohol were also more than twice as likely to:
- Take advantage of another sexually (and almost twice as likely to be taken advantage of sexually);
- Ride with a drunken driver;
- Be hurt or injured as a result of their drinking enough to seek medical attention
- Require medical treatment as a result of their drinking.
O’Brien, M.C. et al. (2008). Caffeinated cocktails: Energy drink consumption, high-risk drinking, and alcohol-related consequences among college students. Academic Emergency Medicine 12: 1-8. [Link to Journal Abstract]