Energy Drinks + Alcohol = Dangerous Cocktail

Study finds students at dramatically higher risk after drinking both beverages
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 5, 2007 1:50 PM CST

College students downing Red Bull and vodka—or any other energy drink-alcohol combo—are at least twice as likely to be injured, ride with a drunk driver, or be involved in a sexual assault as those drinking regular cocktails. The stimulant/depressant mixture prevents students from recognizing intoxication in themselves or others, a researcher who worked on a new study says.

“We were surprised that the risk of serious and potentially deadly consequences is so much higher," the researcher told Fox News, "even when we adjusted for the amount of alcohol.” The study used the Internet to survey more than 4,000 students from 10 universities, of whom 24% said they mixed alcohol and energy drinks. (More alcohol stories.)

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