Energy Drinks + Booze = DISASTER!

Do you drink self-mixed or premixed energy drinks containing alcohol?  A recent FDA crack down on alcoholic energy drinks such as High Gravity HG, High Gravity HG Orange and Lemon Lime, Spiked Moonshot, Four Loko, Joose, and Max has posed major health issues primarily on college campuses.

Nine college students were hospitalized after drinking alcohol containing energy drinks at a college party. Because of this incident, the state of Oklahoma announced a ban of these beverages starting on the Dec. 3.

College students mix alcohol with energy drinks because it has become the social thing to do at college parties. The effects of mixing the two together include dehydration, faster impairment, abnormal heart rhythms, and risky behaviors. According to a video entitled, Buzz in a Bottle: The Dangers of Caffeine –Spiked Energy Drinks, a drinker can be fooled by thinking they are not drunk. When someone has had too much alcohol, usually blackouts occur as a source of protection against further drinking.

It is estimated that about 25% of college students report mixing energy drinks with alcohol, and 15% of college students report that they mix energy drinks with alcohol in order to drink more and feel less drunk. However, when someone mixes both alcohol and energy drinks, they just keep on drinking without passing out. This poses a huge danger because the individual can get alcohol poisoning, overdose of caffeine, end up in the emergency room, and even die.

At TAMIU there have been cases in which students visit the Student Health Center complaining about the symptoms of consuming these beverages: jitters, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, trouble breathing, and headaches. Remember, if you don't want to have a bad experience, it is better to stay safe and avoid drinking this hazardous mixture.

If you have any questions or just want more information relating to this issue, you can visit or call the Student Health Center at (956) 326-2235.

Visit the following website http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3465186n, here is a video that talks about the dangers of energy drinks explained by a doctor.