Energy drink co-administration is associated with increased reported alcohol ingestion.
OBJECTIVE
While energy drinks (EDs) and alcohol have been reported to be frequently co-administered, little is known about the effect of this co-administration on alcohol drinking patterns. The purpose of the present research was to characterise patterns of ED and alcohol co-administration.


METHODS
Seventy-two ED users were recruited from the Halifax university community. Participants provided information about their lifetime ED and other substance use, in addition to detailing instances of their ED and alcohol use during the previous week using a timeline follow-back interview.


RESULTS
Seventy-six per cent of participants reported ever deliberately mixing alcohol with EDs and 19% reported doing so during the previous week. Relative to alcohol drinking sessions in which EDs were not used, participants reported drinking significantly more alcohol when it was co-administered with EDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol and ED co-administration is relatively common among ED users and seems to be associated with increased alcohol ingestion. It is recommended that this matter receive more clinical and research attention.
Price
Stephen R
SR
Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Hilchey
Catherine A
CA
Darredeau
Christine
C
Fulton
Heather G
HG
Barrett
Sean P
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male