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By Kate Halim
Recently, alcoholic drinks mixed with energy drinks have become a popular drink at parties, hangouts and even family gatherings. Even though the age bracket of men and women who take this mixture varies, medical experts say it is not safe to consume alcohol and caffeinated energy drinks together.
Energy drinks are beverages that contain ingredients marketed to increase energy and mental performance. Nearly all energy drinks contain the ingredient caffeine meant to stimulate brain functions and increase alertness and concentration. However, the amount of caffeine differs from product to product. 
Energy drinks also typically contain several other ingredients such as sugar which is usually the main source of calories and B vitamins which play an important role in converting the food you eat into energy your body can use.
Energy drinks also contain amino acid derivatives, including taurine and L-carnitine. Both are naturally produced by the body and have roles in several biological processes. They also contain herbal extracts such as guarana, which is likely included to add more caffeine, while ginseng may have positive effects on brain function.
The reporter spoke to a Lagos-based doctor, Felix Okereke who revealed that people consume energy drinks for a variety of reasons. He noted that one of the most popular is to increase mental alertness by improving brain function.
“Medical researchers believe this increase in brain function can solely be attributed to caffeine, while others have speculated that the combination of caffeine and sugar in energy drinks is necessary to see the most benefit,” he noted.
Okereke added that another reason people consume energy drinks is to help them function when they are sleep deprived or tired. He said drivers on long, late night road trips often reach for energy drinks to help them stay alert while they are behind the wheel as well as people who work overnight at their jobs.
According to him, mixing alcohol and caffeinated energy drinks may seem like a good idea because the energy drink overpowers the alcohol’s drowsiness effects. But he stated that there are some negative side effects that people should not take lightly.
Okereke stated that the high caffeine content in energy drinks may get consumers to drink more than their limit.
His words: “Caffeine is a stimulant but once you come down from that high you want it again, just like coffee. It has a very addictive effect,” he said.
Okereke said that mixing these drinks presents a risk to consumers’ health, noting that the consumers, particularly young, inexperienced drinkers, might not realise how much alcohol they have consumed. He noted that this happens because caffeine can mask the sense of intoxication. This he said can lead to dangerous life situations such as accidents, unnecessary fights and even death.
Okereke said: “Alcohol has a sedative effect. It makes you feel more relaxed, but it also has the residual effect of making you feel tired. Some people like being relaxed but not feeling tired so they add caffeine, a stimulant, to bring them back up, and keep them alert to enjoy the feeling of being relaxed without feeling tired.”
According to him, one of the side effects of consuming energy drinks mixed with alcohol is potential damage to the heart. He said this is because both caffeine and alcohol have their own separate effects on blood pressure and, when combined, they can create even more havoc.
Okereke noted that both caffeine and alcohol stimulate atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), and people who already suffer from heart related health issues should be even more cautious when consuming an alcohol-and-energy-drink cocktail.
“Some caffeinated energy drinks could contain sodium which could further increase blood pressure. And this is all further compounded by the way both alcohol and highly caffeinated drinks can drastically alter your sleep pattern which can lead to even more heart issues,” Okereke added.
According to the medical practitioner, another danger of alcohol and energy drink cocktail is making mistakes. “You know that you don’t perform tasks as well when you are under the influence of alcohol. What you may not know is that although caffeine might make you feel alert, it will not necessarily improve your performance when you consume it with alcohol,” he stated.
Another doctor, Gabriel Omonaiye said that both alcohol and energy drinks come with their own set of hazards when taken alone. He added that when they are consumed together, the combination is exponentially more toxic. “Alcohol acts as a depressant. Energy drinks act as stimulants. When combined, the mixture can cause people to be what experts have termed wide-awake drunk,” he explained.
Omonaiye noted that mixing these two substances may lead to binge drinking and also impact people’s mental health. He added that this might cause different health problems including depression, anxiety, and even death. He said that binge drinkers might experience feelings of anger or irritability alongside physical side effects such as anxiety or depression.
“Alcohol is already addictive on its own, and when it’s mixed with caffeine from an energy drink, the risk for addiction increases exponentially,” the doctor explained.
Omonaiye further noted that when the mixture of alcohol and energy drinks are taken together in high doses, which is often the case with caffeinated alcoholic beverages since energy drinks are often paired with liquors like vodka, these two substances can create opposing physiological and psychological effects within the user.
According to Omonaiye, combining alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks can lead to alcohol poisoning. He added that alcohol overdose symptoms include an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety attacks and seizures.
He said: “Those drinking alcohol and energy drinks may be at risk for engaging in risky behaviours such as unprotected sex, violence or fighting, or prescription drug misuse. They may also be more likely to drive drunk.”
Omonaiye said that people who regularly consume alcohol and caffeine together have a greater risk of developing a dependency on alcohol.
He said that the more frequently one binge-drinks, the greater their chances become of developing alcohol use disorder and alcohol dependence. He added that this risk is even greater if these drinkers have a family history of alcohol addiction.
“Alcohol use disorder is the continued use of alcohol despite it causing significant problems in your life. These problems may include health concerns, relationship difficulties, and an inability to fulfil your responsibilities. Alcohol dependence is another possible consequence. It means that your body has gotten so used to the presence of alcohol that it needs it to function. In turn, if you abruptly stop drinking, your body goes through a withdrawal,” Omonaiye added.
Okereke further added that gaining weight which could lead to other health conditions is another danger that mixing alcohol with energy drinks poses to drinkers. He stated that alcoholic drinks can range from 300 calories up to 500 calories per drink, depending on the brand one is consuming. He noted that what some people don’t know is that these drinks contain hidden sugars.
Beyond the caloric content of the alcohol, most of these energy drinks average between 250 to 300 calories, says Okereke, so they add up very quickly. “If you have three of those drinks, now you have got a 900-calorie intake from those alone. If weight loss or weight management is a goal for you, that intake is going to adversely affect your goals.”
According to Okereke, there’s also the issue of sugar, which is a common, loaded ingredient of energy and caffeinated drinks. “High amounts of alcohol and simple sugars lead to elevated blood triglycerides,” he added. “Triglycerides are fats in the blood that are separate from cholesterol but can still contribute to plaque formation in the arteries.”
He stated that constant consumption of alcohol and energy drinks mix can lead to fatty liver disease or pancreatitis. Additionally, he said that the alcohol-caffeine combo can also lead to elevated blood sugar and blood triglyceride levels which can lead to a higher risk of diabetes.
Omonaiye said that the best way for people to make sure they don’t risk health issues is simply to avoid mixing caffeine with alcohol, particularly when that includes energy drinks.
“If you do want to have alcohol but want to stay up later, try having a separate caffeine drink a few hours before,” he suggested. “And try avoiding high levels of caffeine. Instead of an energy drink, try a caffeinated tea, or a small cup of coffee.”
He also suggested that people should avoid high sugar drinks. Besides the issue of sugar, he said that people are more inclined to consume more sweet drinks and have them quicker which could lead to over consuming and later, health issues which may lead to death. He added that for health reasons, it is safe not to consume alcohol and energy drinks regularly.
He also suggested that people should include water between each alcoholic and/or caffeinated drink. He said that water will help drinkers rehydrate, which can lessen the effects of a hangover the next day. “Drinking water between each alcoholic drink will also help you consume less alcohol, calories and sugar,” he added.
