Mixing alcohol with energy drinks is dangerous for a number of reasons.
Teenagers who have consumed alcohol with energy drinks could reportedly suffer from long-term side effects, such as developing alcoholism in the future, according to a new study.
Those who have consumed alcohol mixed with an energy drink are four times more likely to suffer from an alcohol disorder than someone who didn’t mix their drinks, according to the publication Irish Examiner.
“These findings are concerning,” stated researcher Jennifer Emond.
“They highlight that mixed use of alcohol and energy drinks may signal the development of abusive drinking behaviors among adolescents.”
For the recent study, which was published in the journal of Pediatrics, the research team reportedly looked at a sample of 3,342 people aged 15 to 23 across the U.S. Researchers found that 9.7 percent of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 had consumed an energy drink mixed with alcohol, according to the U.K. publication The Daily Mail.
Further analysis reportedly showed that that specific group had a greater possibility of binge drinking and were more likely to fall into alcoholism in the future.
“Abusive alcohol use among adolescents is a dangerous behavior that can lead to injury, chronic alcohol use and abuse, and even death,” explained Emond.
“Identifying those most at risk for alcohol use is critical. Given that this is a sensitive issue, it’s possible that clinicians, parents, and educators might open dialogues about alcohol use with adolescents by starting the discussion on the topic of energy drinks.”