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Caffeine-alcohol cocktail danger
By David Nankervis
January 20, 2008 12:01am
THE mixing of caffeine-laced energy drinks with alcohol verges on "legalised drink spiking", South Australian Democrats MP Sandra Kanck has warned.
The Australian Medical Association has joined Ms Kanck in calling for an urgent public safety campaign alerting drinkers to the risks posed by the "dangerous" cocktails - such as Jager Bombs, Speedball and Thug Passion - which are typically a cocktail of spirits and energy drinks such as Red Bull.
Popular with young drinkers and served in pubs and clubs across South Australia, a US study has found that the cocktails double a drinker's risk of being hurt or sexually assaulted compared with drinkers of regular alcohol.
Last Sunday, a girl in her late teens was treated at Adelaide's Queen Elizabeth Hospital after drinking a mixture of alcohol and five cans of Red Bull.
She recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.19 - almost four times the legal driving limit. Red Bull has around 80mg of caffeine per 250ml can, equivalent to an average cup of coffee, and is banned due to health concerns in France, Norway, Denmark, Uruguay and Iceland.
Ms Kanck said the cocktails were a menace.
"Nightclubs are mixing vodka and other spirits with energy drinks like Red Bull and Lucozade - that keeps young people dancing and drinking all night," she said.
"But research in the US and Brazil shows the energy boost in drinks like Red Bull makes people feel less drunk than they really are.
"This is verging on legalised drink spiking."
A survey of more than 4000 US college students by the Wake Forest University in November last year found that a quarter had recently consumed energy cocktails.
That group were twice as likely to be hurt or injured after drinking, twice as likely to need medical attention and drank up to 36 per cent more than other students.
The cocktail drinkers also faced double the risk of either taking sexual advantage of someone else, or being taken advantage of themselves, the survey found.
Ms Kanck said: "We need a public awareness campaign, warnings against mixing the drinks with alcohol, on the cans' ink labels ... and a review of the Liquor Licensing Code of Practice to make sure nightclubs are not putting young people at risk."
AMA state president Dr Peter Ford said the stimulants in the energy drinks masked the effects of alcohol, putting drinkers at greater risk of death through excess alcohol consumption.
"These drinks have a similar effect to amphetamines because they overcome the sedating effect of alcohol," Dr Ford said.
"It is a dangerous mixture because it impairs people's judgment. And one of the most common causes of death with excessive alcohol consumption is people inhaling their own vomit, especially those who go to sleep in the wrong position or are involved in car accidents."
The Australian Hotels Association said it had been unaware of the potential health risks posed by the trendy cocktails.
SA Minister for Substance Abuse Gail Gago said there was "no evidence to suggest that these drinks enhance the effects of intoxication of alcohol". "This should not divert attention from the main issue of people drinking too much alcohol and that remains the key focus," she said.
Red Bull Australia said the energy drink was "especially developed for periods of increased mental and physical exertion".
Red Bull head of communications Janelle Neath said the adverse effects of alcohol on human health and behaviour were "due to the alcoholic drink, not the mixer, be it cola, orange juice, tonic or whatever else is mixed".
News.com.au