Poison-control specialists are warning that mixing energy drinks with alcohol can make a person feel more alert without reducing intoxication, increasing the risk of alcohol poisoning, injury and impaired driving.
Caffeine is a stimulant, but it does not speed the body’s removal of alcohol or restore judgment and coordination. A person may therefore underestimate how impaired they are and continue drinking beyond the amount they otherwise would consume.
The combination also can place additional strain on the heart and circulatory system. Reported effects include a rapid or irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, anxiety, sleep disruption and dehydration.
Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said the safest choice is not to combine highly caffeinated products with alcohol. Friends also should watch one another for signs that someone needs help.
Warning signs of alcohol poisoning include confusion, repeated vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin, low body temperature and difficulty waking. A person with those symptoms should not be left alone or allowed to “sleep it off.” Call 911 immediately.
People should not drive after drinking even if caffeine makes them feel awake. A sober driver, taxi or ride service should be arranged before alcohol is consumed.
For questions about a possible poisoning in the United States, the Poison Help line is available around the clock at 1-800-222-1222. The service connects callers with their regional poison-control center. Call 911 when a person is unconscious, having a seizure, having trouble breathing or cannot be awakened.
