The dangers of mixing caffeine and alcohol

Concerned about the possible public health effect of caffeinated, alcoholic, malt beverage drinks such as Four Loko, which mixes large doses of caffeine with an alcohol content as high as 12 percent, several universities across the country are proposing banning the popular drink. Today, the state of Michigan banned retail sales of Four Loko citing “serious health and safety risks to American youth.”

Richard J. Church, MD, assistant professor in emergency medicine, is a toxicologist and an expert in caffeine intoxication. He has seen first-hand the effect of mixing large doses of caffeine with alcohol.

“The concern is that people are becoming confused about how intoxicated they are,” said Dr. Church. “You are putting a stimulant into your body that perks you up. But at the same time, it contains alcohol that impairs motor coordination and reaction times. People end up feeling more sober than they are. And they consume more alcohol as a result. For young people in particular, it can be hard to know when enough has become too much.”