I came across an article as I was reading my new issue of Cosmopolitan. It was about binge drinking and alcohol poisoning. It is really no surprise that drinking large amounts of alcohol is dangerous. It increases your risk of getting acute alcohol poisoning. if you are out at a bar or club you may become disoriented and get into trouble or try to drive home while drunk. However, the article pointed out a new trend that is leading to deadly consequences. It is a cocktail that mixes alcohol with sports drinks. An example of this would be Vodka mixed with Red Bull. Many bars are now carrying sports drinks and these cocktails have gained popularity among the under 30 group. In fact, many college students are now mixing alcohol and sports drinks.

The high caffeine content of the sports drink gives one the ability to drink more. Individuals drinking these cocktails do not feel the effects of the alcohol. They  feel alert and continue to drink. However, physically the person may not be able to walk or drive. Also individuals consuming these drinks do not get tired so they are able to stay awake and drink all night. This can lead to alcohol poisoning for some people.

Sports drinks are not regulated and not enough tests have been done on the long tem effects of these drinks. There has been a case where a woman drank a sports drink containing guarana and her heart stopped working. Several years ago products containing Ephedra were pulled from  the shelves and have stopped being sold (I have seen ephedra products still advertised online). Many people suffered consequences from this stimulant.

When you combine alcohol with sports drinks you are combining a powerful depressant with a powerful stimulant. The result can be a negative effect on the body. In my research some have compared it to mixing alcohol with ecstasy. The body may not be able to handle it.