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

Abstract

Mixing alcohol with energy drink had no overall masking effect on subjective intoxication caused by alcohol, nor had a relevant effect on subjective alertness-sleepiness ratings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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

“…Data on the masking effect examined when combining alcohol with actual energy drinks (rather than with caffeine or cola‐type drinks) come from six experimental studies directly comparing subjective intoxication after consuming AMED with AO (Benson & Scholey, ; Marczinski, Fillmore, Bardgett, & Howard, ; Marczinski, Fillmore, Henges, Ramsey, & Young, ; Marczinski et al, ; Peacock, Bruno, Martin, & Carr, ; Van de Loo et al, ). In addition, an on‐premise study was conducted in the Netherlands assessing subjective intoxication in a natural setting, including higher consumption levels of alcohol when compared to laboratory settings.…”

“…In case there was more than one AO or AMED comparison, the peak alcohol comparison was used. Van de Loo et al () administered one 250‐ml can of Red Bull to each participant, containing 80 mg of caffeine. BrAC = blood alcohol concentration; AMED = alcohol mixed with energy drink; AO = alcohol only; W = within subjects; B = between groups; BRS = Beverage Rating Scale; VAS = visual analogue scale; N = number of subjects.…”

“…Coadministered caffeine levels that varied from 0.6 to 3.57 mg/kg bodyweight (i.e., the equivalent of 0.5 to three 250‐ml cans of an 80‐mg‐caffeine energy drink). Subjective intoxication was assessed using the Beverage Rating Scale (Marczinski et al, , , ; Peacock et al, ) or visual analogue scales ranging from sober to drunk / highly intoxicated (Benson & Scholey, ; Van de Loo et al, ). On the Beverage Rating Scale, drinkers rate their perceived intoxication in terms of equivalence to that felt after consuming bottles of beer containing 5% alcohol.…”

“…Van de Loo et al () examined the effects of energy drink (250 ml Red Bull, 80 mg caffeine) versus placebo energy drink mixed with alcohol to achieve a BrAC of 0.08%, 0.05%, 0.02%, and 0%. Subjective intoxication was assessed on a scale ranging from 0 ( sober ) to 10 ( highly intoxicated ).…”

“…In case there was more than one AO or AMED comparison, the peak alcohol comparison was used. Van de Loo et al (2016) ranging from sober to drunk/highly intoxicated Van de Loo et al, 2016). On the Beverage Rating Scale, drinkers rate their perceived intoxication in terms of equivalence to that felt after consuming bottles of beer containing 5% alcohol.…”