title: Effects of alcohol and energy drink on mood and subjective intoxication: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is concern that combining energy drinks with alcohol may 'mask' subjective intoxication leading to greater alcohol consumption. This study examines the effects of alcohol alone and combined with energy drink on objective and subjective intoxication and mood over the course of 3 h.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced, crossover design, 24 participants (mean age 22.23 years) were administered with double placebo, 0.6 g/kg alcohol (mean peak blood alcohol content of 0.051%), 250 ml energy drink and alcohol/energy drink, according to a Latin square design, with a washout of >48 h. On each visit, they were breathalysed and rated themselves on a comprehensive battery of mood items at baseline and then at 45, 90 and 180 min post-drink.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood alcohol and subjective intoxication were significantly increased following both alcohol alone and alcohol/energy drink. Both measures were statistically indistinguishable between alcohol conditions. In keeping with its (80 mg) caffeine content, the energy drink alone significantly increased self-rated 'alertness' and reduced 'depression-dejection' scores compared with the combined alcohol/energy drink. The alcohol/energy drink increased 'vigor' and 'contentment' at 45 min and decreased 'contentment' at 180 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The co-ingestion of an energy drink with alcohol does not differently influence blood alcohol content recordings or subjective intoxication compared with alcohol alone, although some mood items are differentially affected.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scholey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D061215:Energy Drinks; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: alcohol; caffeine; energy drink; intoxication; mood