Mixing alcohol with energy drinks is a popular practice, especially among young people in the United States¹. However, it can be dangerous. When alcohol is mixed with caffeine, the caffeine can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, making drinkers feel more alert than they would otherwise. As a result, they may drink more alcohol and become more impaired than they realize, increasing the risk of alcohol-attributable harms¹.

Drinkers who mix alcohol with energy drinks are more likely to report unwanted or unprotected sex, driving drunk or riding with a driver who was intoxicated, or sustaining alcohol-related injuries¹. Energy drinks typically contain caffeine, plant-based stimulants, simple sugars, and other additives¹. Caffeine has no effect on the metabolism of alcohol by the liver and thus does not reduce breath or blood alcohol concentrations (it does not “sober you up”) or reduce impairment due to alcohol consumption¹.

(1) Dangers of mixing alcohol with caffeine and energy drinks | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/caffeine-and-alcohol.htm.
(2) Why to Avoid Mixing Energy Drinks & Alcohol – Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/energy-drinks-and-alcohol-a-bad-combination/.
(3) The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol With Energy Drinks – Ria Health. https://riahealth.com/blog/the-dangers-of-mixing-alcohol-with-energy-drinks/.
(4) Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: what are the risks? – PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25293549/.
(5) Dangers of Mixing Energy Drinks With Alcohol – Behavioral Health Centers. https://behavioralhealth-centers.com/blog/mixing-alcohol-and-energy-drinks/.

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