Effects of alcohol mixed with energy drink and alcohol alone on subjective intoxication

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that the combination of caffeine-containing drinks together with alcohol might reduce the subjective feelings of alcohol intoxication—the so-called “masking effect”. In this study, we aimed to review the effects of alcohol in combination with caffeine or energy drink with special focus on the “masking effect”. Fifty-two healthy male volunteers were analysed concerning breath alcohol concentration and subjective sensations of intoxication using a 18 item Visual Analogue Scale in a randomised, double-blinded, controlled, four treatments cross-over trial after consumption of (A) placebo, (B) alcohol (vodka 37.5 % at a dose of 46.5 g ethanol), (C) alcohol in combination with caffeine at a dose of 80 mg (equivalent to one 250 ml can of energy drink) and (D) alcohol in combination with energy drink at a dose of 250 ml (one can). Primary variables were headache, weakness, salivation and motor coordination. Out of four primary variables, weakness and motor coordination showed a statistically significant difference between alcohol and non-alcohol group, out of 14 secondary variables, five more variables (dizziness, alterations in sight, alterations in walking, agitation and alterations in speech) also showed significant differences due mainly to contrasts with the non-alcohol group. In none of these end points, could a statistically significant effect be found for the additional ingestion of energy drink or caffeine on the subjective feelings of alcohol intoxication. This within-subjects study does not confirm the presence of a “masking effect” when combining caffeine or energy drink with alcohol.

Alcohol mixed with energy drink (AMED): A critical review and meta‐analysis

“…It can be questioned to what extent these four symptoms (i.e., higher scores of headache, weakness, salivation, and reduced motor coordination) are related to subjective intoxication and masking. Of note, Ferreira's findings were not confirmed in a recent replication study with twice the number of subjects (Ulbrich et al, 2013). In this study, Ulbrich et al (2013) found no significant difference on any of the 18 symptoms that were examined by Ferreira et al (2006).…”

“…Of note, Ferreira's findings were not confirmed in a recent replication study with twice the number of subjects (Ulbrich et al, ). In this study, Ulbrich et al () found no significant difference on any of the 18 symptoms that were examined by Ferreira et al (). Similarly, Alford, Hamilton‐Morris, and Verster () could not find significant differences in subjective effects to support the findings of Ferreira et al…”

The effects of alcohol mixed with energy drink (AMED) on subjective intoxication and alertness: results from a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial

“…Except for one study (Peacock et al ., ), it was consistently found that “stimulation” ratings after consuming alcohol plus caffeine were not significantly different from alcohol plus placebo (Fillmore, ; Marczinski and Fillmore, ; Attwood et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; McKetin and Coen, , Heinz et al ., , Benson and Scholey, ). Similarly, no significant effect of alcohol plus caffeine was found on “sedation” ratings (Benson and Scholey, ; Fillmore, ; Marczinski et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., , Marczinski and Fillmore, ; McKetin and Coen, ; Peacock et al ., ; Heinz et al ., ), and with only few exceptions (Drake et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; Smith, ), the vast majority of studies did not find significant effects of alcohol plus caffeine (versus alcohol only) on various subjective assessments related to sleepiness and alertness (Alford et al ., ; Attwood et al ., ; Ferreira et al ., ; Ulbrich et al ., ; Azcona et al ., ; Benson and Scholey, ; Liguori and Robinson, ; Peacock et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; Peacock et al ., ). In case significant differences were found (Drake et al ., ; Marczinski et al ., ; Smith, ), like in the current study the effects were small and had no clinical relevance.…”

Co‐ingestion of energy drinks with alcohol and other substances among a sample of people who regularly use ecstasy

“…While these data provides the first overview of physiological and psychological outcomes after ED with illicit stimulant use, causal attributions cannot be drawn as side‐effects of the substances consumed independently were not assessed. Laboratory studies have generally shown similar ratings of physiological outcomes after administration of alcohol with and without ED [32–34], suggesting that negative effects may be primarily driven by alcohol consumption, although low doses of ED (∼250 mL) were administered relative to retrospective self‐reported real‐world intake (∼500–750 mL) and consumer retrospective self‐report indicates greater odds of stimulant, and lower odds of sedation‐based, side‐effects [12]. It is important to note that the typical ED volume co‐ingested with alcohol was in excess of Australian recommended maximum daily intake guidelines [25].…”