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The effects of energy drink in combination with alcohol on performance and subjective awareness

Verster, Joris C.; Alford, Chris; Hamilton-Morris, Jennifer

Authors

Joris C. Verster

Jennifer Hamilton-Morris



Abstract

Rationale This study investigated the coadministration of an energy drink with alcohol to study the effects on subjective intoxication and objective performance. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the objective and subjective effects of alcohol versus placebo at two alcohol doses, alone and in combination with an energy drink, in a balanced order, placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Methods Two groups of ten healthy volunteers, mean (SD) age of 24 (6.5), participated in the study. One group consumed energy drink containing 80 mg of caffeine and the other consumed a placebo drink, with both receiving two alcohol doses (0.046 and 0.087% breathalyser alcohol concentration). Tests included breath alcohol assessment, objective measures of performance (reaction time, word memory and Stroop task) and subjective visual analogue mood scales. Results Participants showed significantly impaired reaction time and memory after alcohol compared to the no alcohol condition and had poorer memory after the higher alcohol dose. Stroop performance was improved with the energy drink plus alcohol combination compared to the placebo drink plus alcohol combination. Participants felt significant subjective dose-related impairment after alcohol compared to no alcohol. Neither breath alcohol concentration nor the subjective measures showed a significant difference between the energy drink and the placebo energy drink when combined with alcohol. Conclusions Subjective effects reflected awareness of alcohol intoxication and sensitivity to increasing alcohol dose. There were no overall significant group differences for subjective measures between energy drink and placebo groups in the presence of alcohol and no evidence that the energy drink masked the subjective effects of alcohol at either dose. © Springer-Verlag 2012.

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Aug 1, 2012
Journal Psychopharmacology
Print ISSN 0033-3158
Electronic ISSN 1432-2072
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 222
Issue 3
Pages 519-532
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2677-1
Keywords alcohol, antagonism, caffeine, energy drink, intoxication, performance, subjective awareness
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/948721
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2677-1