Desire to Drink Alcohol is Enhanced with High Caffeine Energy Drink Mixers. (15th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marczinski, Cecile A.; Fillmore, Mark T.; Stamates, Amy L.; Maloney, Sarah F.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 40:Number 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1982
• Page End: 1990
• Publication Date: 2016-07-15
• Subjects: Alcohol -- Energy Drinks -- Caffeine -- Desire to Drink -- Social Drinkers; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.13152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Consumption of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) has been associated with a variety of risks beyond that observed with alcohol alone. Consumers of AmED beverages are more likely to engage in heavy episodic (binge) drinking. This study was to investigate whether the consumption of high caffeine energy drink mixers with alcohol would increase the desire to drink alcohol compared to the same amount of alcohol alone using a double‐blind, within‐subjects, placebo‐controlled study design. Methods: Participants ( n = 26) of equal gender who were social drinkers attended 6 double‐blind dose administration sessions that involved consumption of alcohol and energy drinks, alone and in combination. On each test day, participants received 1 of 6 possible doses: (i) 1.21 ml/kg vodka + 3.63 ml/kg decaffeinated soft drink, (ii) 1.21 ml/kg vodka + 3.63 ml/kg energy drink, (iii) 1.21 ml/kg vodka + 6.05 ml/kg energy drink, (iv) 3.63 ml/kg decaffeinated soft drink, (v) 3.63 ml/kg energy drink, and (vi) 6.05 ml/kg energy drink. Following dose administration, participants repeatedly completed self‐reported ratings on the Desire‐for‐Drug questionnaire and provided breath alcohol readings. Results: Alcohol alone increased the subjective ratings of "desire for more alcohol" compared to placebo doses. Energy drink mixers with the alcohol increased desire for more alcohol ratings beyond that observed with alcohol alone. Conclusions: This study provides laboratory evidence that AmED beverages lead to greater desire to drink alcohol versus the same amount of alcohol consumed alone. The findings are consistent with results from animal studies indicating that caffeine increases the rewarding and reinforcing properties of alcohol. Abstract : The purpose of this laboratory‐based study was to investigate whether energy drink mixers increase the desire to drink alcohol. Social drinkers attended six sessions that involved consumption of alcohol and energy drinks, alone and in combination, and completed ratings on the Desire‐for‐Drug questionnaire. The results indicated that energy drink mixers increased desire for more alcohol ratings beyond that observed with alcohol alone. Thus, energy drink mixers may increase the reinforcing properties of alcohol and contribute to binge drinking.