Mixing energy drinks and alcohol ‘increases risk of injury’

A new study has highlighted the potential dangers involved in mixing highly caffeinated energy drinks and alcohol.

Research from the University of Victoria assessed existing research on the topic of alcohol and energy drinks published from 1981 to 2016, finding evidence of a link between the use of alcohol mixed with energy drinks and an increased risk of injury compared to drinking alcohol only.

This included injuries that were caused unwittingly, due to falls or motor vehicle accidents, or intentionally through fights or physical violence, with a key issue being the fact that energy drinks can lead to a false impression of how much a person has drunk.

Study author Audra Roemer, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Victoria, said: "Usually when you're drinking alcohol, you get tired and you go home. Energy drinks mask that, so people may underestimate how intoxicated they are [and] end up staying out later."

Evidence also suggests that mixing these types of drink can cause problems sleeping and a raised heart rate, although more research is needed on a subject that remains relatively poorly understood.

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