Caffeine & Alcohol Blend – a Lethal Cocktail? The FDA Steps in!

Rate it!

Currently 3 /5 Stars.
1
2
3
4
5

Four Loko for instance has 12% alcohol and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. (The caffeine found in a cup of coffee is the same active ingredient found in energy drinks. So when your brain seems slow or sluggish due to fatigue caffeine acts like booster switch. However when mixed with alcohol, it masks the effects of alcohol, so the person does not realize when they have crossed the alcohol limit.)

Though doctors and schools are making efforts on educating the youngsters that consuming these drinks is a recipe for disaster, it still seems to increasingly attract teenagers and underage drinkers. As Nicholas, one of the students in the hospital said “If I mix energy drinks and alcohol it's because it helps me stay awake and party longer, not because it makes me feel sober. Alcohol usually makes me want to go to sleep, but if I mix it with energy drinks or have coffee, I'm more likely to enjoy myself instead of wishing I was in bed”.

Not withstanding the issues of underage drinking, misuse or abuse of alcohol these brightly colored drinks have been deceptively packaged to look like innocuous fruits or energy drinks which gullible parents have started storing in their freezers. As a result many school authorities and lawmakers in several states have asked for a ban of the drinks.

NutritionVista

Previous Page Next Page

User Comments

20 November, 2010 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

How much impact THE FDA warning has on these companies to withdraw the existing products, other companies to desist bringing out similar concotions, and kids from indulging in them, has to be seen.

17 November, 2010 | Mrinal | Reply

The Food and Drug Administration was expected to take a stand Wednesday on the removal of Caffeine From Alcoholic Drinks - (e.g. Four Loko)

Anticipating such a move, the company that manufactures Four Loko announced on Tuesday evening that they were removing the caffeine and two other ingredients from its products. This was a direct result of their facing steady criticism and regulatory scrutiny for manufacturing these dangerous energy concoctions that combine high levels of a caffeine stimulant with alcohol.

There had been numerous reports of young people getting sick after consuming this deceptively marketed blend of alcohol and caffeine, which was sold in colorful 23.5-ounce cans.

Hopefully the other brands will follow the lead and stop bringing such reckless products to market.

17 November, 2010 | Shreenatha Narayana | Reply

Great, that is a commendable move by the manufacturer. The FDA should still bring in some stringent rules so that none of the manufacturer can deceive the consumer.

17 November, 2010 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Fantastic news Mrinal! I am sure with pressure form the Medical fraternity, FDA, parents, School authorities and healthy students all other companies will follow suit. Not only that no company would like to be seen as deliberately going against the law or harming the youth.

09 November, 2010 | Vedanta Dikshit | Reply

Mixing any energy drinks with alcohol causes this effect or just the drinks mentioned in the above article? What are the energy drinks available in India, name a few. Just want to know the brand names so that I can keep my son who is 19 yrs of age, off them.

Very nice and informative article. Thank you.

01 November, 2010 | Parul Mehta | Reply

Education students from primary school onwards about the ill effects of drugs, alcohol and smoking will help in keeping atleast 50% of the kids away from these dangerous habits. Easy access to pocket money, getting everything they need from parents who struggle to give their wards the best of everything, has made the children of today to some extent irresponsible.

01 November, 2010 | Danny | Reply

It is sad that children will do anything to be a on a high without thinking of the repercussions. There are kids who will do anything for a DARE and challenge the peer to do the same. The worry is they willl not be aware when they cross the line from so called `FUN' to `Danger'.I agree there should be strict legislation in marketing such spirits. In my sons school also they are facing drugs, smoking and drinking problems from class 7 onward.... we need to watch our wards without rasing their suspicion.

01 November, 2010 | Nitin Kakkar | Reply

People who consume only alcohol, who feel tired and intoxicated, are more likely to acknowledge that they are drunk.On the other hand, people who have consumed both alcohol and caffeine may feel awake and competent enough to handle potentially harmful situations, such as driving while intoxicated or placing themselves in dangerous social situations which in turn can lead to disastrous consequences.

01 November, 2010 | Rahul Kumar | Reply

Caffeine in these drinks may lead people to underestimate how drunk they are, giving drinkers a false sense of sobriety.An inaccurate perception may increase the likelihood of engaging in high-risk behavior.
Its important to make teenagers aware about the effect of these drinks.

Post Comments

Contact Name:

E-mail:

(Will show your Gravatar icon)

Comments:

Notify me when new comments are added

User Rules

Dear User,

This is to inform you that this part of the site is moderated, and your comments will be published after the approval of the moderators. Your text comments can be modified or deleted at any time. All comments that are posted are moderated by paid employees to ensure appropriate behavior and monitor and prevent abuse and disrespect of users and readers. The moderators also ensure that all questions asked are forwarded to and responded by employees in a timely manner and by the appropriate and qualified employees. The moderators are the dietitians listed under "The NV Dietetic Team"

All users are by default considered as non medical professionals, unless explicitly stated. If you are a health professional giving medical information as a platform user, please list your status as a medical professional so as to be clearly identified.

Please note - We recommend you not include any personal data and will remove all advertising for a site or product.

All platform users and moderators must behave at all times with respect and honesty. If comments are inappropriate moderators may intervene and if a platform users is banned they will be warned or notified before being banned.

Please note regarding response time - The moderator’s is notified automatically with details the instant a comment is posted.

'The information provided on the NutritionVista.com website is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician.' The minimum age for the use or participation in these platforms is 18 years of age and is strictly adhered to. By posting a comment all users of this platform undertake to disseminate only information that is true and correct in light of their knowledge.

Tags: Alcohol Abuse, Drugs, Health Hazards, Healthy Lifestyle, Ulcers

© 2007 - 2024 NutritionVista.com. All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. All articles and content written by the Nutritionvista.com team for NutritionVista.com are the sole property of J.L.S Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Content may not be copied without express permission to do so. If you want to link back to an article, please ensure a working link to the article title is used and is functioning at all times.