It’s been a popular drink for college students and 20-somethingers for a few years now--Red Bull and vodka, Red Bull and cognac, Sparks, Four Loko, espresso and whisky. Some reports now say these trendy drinks are gaining popularity at high school parties.
Underage drinking is a problem in itself; however, caffeinated alcoholic beverages adds a new spiral of fear to the issue. Experts say that even one is a recipe for disaster—it sends the body mixed signals. The caffeine stimulates the system while the alcohol depresses it, making students feel less drunk then they are—easily putting them in a dangerous, life-threatening situation.
But, energy drinks by themselves are also something to be cautious of. New research is revealing that individuals who consume energy drinks on a regular basis are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking, drug use, and binge drinking. Reports are not claiming that energy drinks are "gateway drugs,” but they are starting to refer to them as “red-flag choices.”
Another reason to be wary about energy drinks is we simply don’t know much about them besides they are loaded with sugar and caffeine. As these beverages are typically marketed to a younger audience, it’s no surprise students have grown fond of their trendy, grow wings and fly away, study all night effects. But, the FDA has not concluded any study on these popular drinks, and so their harmful or non-harmful effects on the body over years of consumption (and perhaps abuse) is not known.
Learn more about energy drinks—ingredients, uses, and effects—by clicking here.
