title: The use of caffeinated alcoholic beverages among underage drinkers: results of a national survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mixing of alcoholic beverages with caffeine has been identified as a public health problem among college students; however, little is known about the consumption of such drinks among younger adolescents. We estimated the prevalence of caffeinated alcoholic beverage (CAB) use among a wide age range of underage drinkers, examined differences in traditional (i.e. self-mixed alcoholic beverages with soda, coffee and tea) and non-traditional CAB use (pre-mixed caffeinated alcoholic beverages or self-mixed alcoholic beverages with energy drinks or energy shots) among underage drinkers by age and other demographic characteristics, and examined differences in hazardous drinking behavior between CAB and non-CAB users.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an existing Internet panel maintained by Knowledge Networks, Inc. to assess the use of pre-mixed and self-mixed CABs in the past 30 days among a national sample of 1031 youth drinkers age 13-20. We conducted logistic regression analyses to estimate the relationship between traditional and non-traditional CAB use and risky drinking behavior as well as adverse outcomes of drinking, while controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and general risk-taking (seat belt use).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of CAB use in the sample of underage drinkers was 52.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.4%-57.4%). CAB prevalence was 48.4% among 13-15 year-old drinkers, 45.3% among 16-18 year-old drinkers, and 58.4% among 19-20 year-old drinkers. After controlling for other variables, we found a continuum of risk with non-traditional CAB use most significantly associated with binge drinking (odds ratio [OR]=6.3), fighting (OR=4.4), and alcohol-related injuries (OR=5.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The problem of caffeinated alcoholic beverage use is not restricted to college-aged youth. The prevalence of CAB use among underage drinkers is higher than previously thought and begins in early adolescence. Adolescents who consume CABs, and particularly non-traditional CABs, are at increased risk of adverse outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Kalé Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Kponee
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jernigan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002110:Caffeine; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003069:Coffee; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013662:Tea; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003069:Coffee; D013662:Tea; D002110:Caffeine
keywords: Adverse outcomes; Alcohol drinking pattern; Alcohol use; CAB; Energy drink; Youth; caffeinated alcoholic beverage