The combination of impaired impulse control and enhanced stimulation may make energy drinks combined with alcohol riskier than alcohol alone, a new study shows.

“Young people are now drinking alcohol in different ways than they have in the past,” said Cecile A. Marczinski, assistant professor of psychology at Northern Kentucky University and first author of the study. “Classic mixed drinks such as rum and coke have been replaced with mixed drinks that use energy drinks instead, such as yagerbombs and Red Bull™ and vodka.

The study was designed to demonstrate that alcohol/energy drinks are pharmacologically distinct from alcohol alone and are adding to the risks of drinking.

“A consumer of alcohol, with or without the energy drink, acts impulsively compared to when they had not consumed alcohol,” Marczinski said. “However, the consumer of the alcohol/energy drink felt more stimulated compared to an alcohol-alone consumer. Therefore, consumption of an energy drink combined with alcohol sets up a risky scenario for the drinker due to this enhanced feeling of stimulation and high impulsivity levels.”

“The findings from this study provide concrete laboratory evidence that the mixture of energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than alcohol alone,” said Marczinski. “College students need to be aware of the risks of these beverages. Moreover, clinicians who are working with risky drinkers will need to try and steer their clients away from these beverages.”

[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/ace-deb040911.php]