Drinkers ignore risks of caffeinated alcoholic beverages
Young adults have been warned by scientists about mixing caffeine and alcohol even though there have been a withdrawal, under the federal pressure, of caffeinated alcoholic beverages from the marketplace.
The same researchers also say that there is still a need for a lot of studies to be done regarding the dangers that are posed by mixed caffeine and alcohol drinks. A report from CDC states that alcoholic drinks and energy drinks, when mixed together, may lead to a person drinking excessively. This is because the caffeine found in energy drinks masks the depressant effects of alcohol.
The said report by the scientists is published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine a few days after FDA gave its warning to the manufacturers of caffeinated alcohol drinks last November 17 that such products were not safe and may be too risky to drink.Furthermore, the FDA said in a recent statement that there has been a remarkable progress since they have made the warnings about the caffeinated alcoholic drinks, and that there were many alcoholic drinks that have been withdrawn.
In addition, FDA said that the United Brands has started ceasing its shipping of caffeinated alcoholic beverage Joose. United Brands have also made plans to have its caffeinated alcohol drinks off the market by December 13. On the other hand, Phusion Projects has already stopped the production of caffeinated alcoholic drinks, and no longer distribute these kinds of products. Phusion Projects has expected that all these drinks will also be recalled by December 13.
A survey done in 2008 revealed that out of 577 caffeinated beverages listed on a website called Energy Fiend, there were 130 that contained more than .02% of caffeine limit for soft drinks, as imposed by FDA. In another 2006 survey, there were 24% college students that admitted they were mixing energy drinks with alcohol a month before the survey was undertaken. It was noted that those who frequently go the bars and drink caffeinated alcohol drinks were three times more at risk to leave the bar totally drunk, as compared to those who drink alcohol without caffeine.
Dr. Jonathan Howland of the department of community health sciences at Boston University and author of the new report said that there are still too little explanations on why most young drinkers prefer caffeinated alcohol beverages than those that do not have caffeine.
Dr. Howland says that the marketing campaigns may have an influence to the choice of these young drinkers. Most commercials and other advertisements claim that the energy drinks can give the drinkers an increase in attention, more endurance, better performance and a lot of fun. He further said that even though manufactured caffeinated alcoholic drinks are being recalled, as long as there are alcoholic beverages and energy drinks in the market, people will keep on mixing them.