A UK student survey investigating the effects of consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks on overall alcohol consumption and alcohol-related negative consequences.
Previous research reported positive associations between alcohol mixed with energy drink (AMED) consumption and overall alcohol consumption. However, results were largely based on between-subjects comparisons comparing AMED consumers with alcohol-only (AO) consumers, and therefore cannot sufficiently control for differences in personal characteristics between these groups. In order to determine whether AMED consumers drink more alcohol on occasions they consume AMED compared to those when they drink AO additional within-subjects comparisons are required. Therefore, this UK student survey assessed both alcohol consumption and alcohol-related negative consequences when consumed alone and when mixed with energy drinks, using a within-subject design. A total of 1873 students completed the survey, including 732 who consumed AMED. It was found that AMED consumers drank significantly less alcohol when they consumed AMED compared to when they drank AO (p < 0.001). In line with reduced alcohol consumption significantly fewer negative alcohol-related consequences were reported on AMED occasions compared to AO occasions (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that mixing alcohol with energy drinks does not increase total alcohol consumption or alcohol-related negative consequences.
The Centre for Research in Biosciences, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
Sean J
SJ
Johnson
The Centre for Research in Biosciences, Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
Chris
C
Alford
Department of Biological, Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
Karina
K
Stewart
Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia.
Joris C
JC
Verster
AMED, Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink; AO, Alcohol-Only; Alcohol mixed with energy drinks; BYAACQ, Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire; Consequences; Student alcohol consumption
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