There is no mystery in the popularity of energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster. The caffeine content, alongside added sugar, will heighten awareness in most individuals for an extended amount of time. Young adults are particularly interested in energy drinks, especially high school and college students. But what about energy drinks with alcohol? More specifically, a 23.5-ounce can containing 12% alcohol?
Four Loko is a high-alcohol, high-caffeine beverage. Many have claimed the drink as a toxic cocktail. ABC Health News found that one 23.5 ounce can of Four Loko contains as much alcohol content as six cans of Bud Light beer, and contains more than an 8 ounce cup of coffee equivalence in caffeine.
But what are the effects of mixing caffeine and alcohol? Probably a quick way to get drunk without the luxury to sleep it off. Mixing a depressant like alcohol with a caffeine stimulant puts the body in a confused state. Doctor Mary Claire O’Brien of Wake Forest University says people who drink Four Loko, “can’t tell that they’re drunk; what this behavior gets is a wide awake drunk.” Caffeine essentially fights off alcohol’s affects of lethargy and loss of clear thought. What happens as a result is your body doesn’t think you’re nearly has drunk as you are. End result: consuming more alcoholic drinks.
This article appears in Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2010.