Beer and Coke are perhaps the two most consumed beverages on campus.  Students often relax with a brew in hand, or kick off an all-nighter by chugging a 2-liter bottle of soda.  The individual effects of alcohol and caffeine are well documented.  Alcohol, a depressant, causes a reduction in the level of inhibition, alertness, coordination, and other faculties.  On the other hand, caffeine, a stimulant, causes someone to feel more alert.  But what happens when you mix alcohol and caffeine together?  Christopher Drake, Timothy Roehrs et al. discuss the effects of Rum and Coke, Redbull Vodka and other alcohol-and-caffeine cocktails in their paper, “Caffeine Reversal of Ethanol Effects on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, Memory, and Psychomotor Performance.”

           

What did they find?

 

The researchers administered different combinations of caffeine and alcohol to 13 individuals.  The 13 individuals were then tested for “alertness/sleepiness, memory and psychomotor skills,” and other functions.  Drake et al. found that caffeine reversed some of the effects of alcohol, but not others.  A large enough dose of caffeine can reverse the “sleepiness, memory and psychomotor skills” that is brought about by a “moderate” dose of alcohol (2-3 drinks for a female, 3-4 drinks for a male).  However, caffeine has no effect on how dizzy someone feels after consuming alcohol.

           

Why does caffeine reverse the some of the effects of alcohol, but not others? 

 

Drake et al. believe that caffeine only reverses the effects that relate to sleepiness.  Alcohol causes sleepiness by reducing neural transmission.  This means that alcohol prevents the brain from receiving messages from other parts of the body.  Caffeine has the exact opposite effect.  It facilitates the receiving of messages by the brain.  Therefore, the effects of alcohol and caffeine that relate to sleepiness cancel each other out.  However, caffeine does not cancel out certain effects, such as dizziness, which are completely unrelated to sleepiness.  This is because dizziness, alcohol poisoning and other effects are not caused by the previously mentioned mechanism.  These effects occur when alcohol saturates your brain stem, which controls basic motor functions.  Since caffeine has no effect on your brain stem, it cannot stave off poisoning. 

 

Should I mix alcohol with caffeine?

 

            According to the study, mixing alcohol with caffeine can result in a loss of inhibition while you maintain your alertness and psychomotor skills.  This is not exactly a bad combination.  Now you can easily talk to girls without having to strap on the beer goggles.  However, there are dangers you may not be aware of.  You may not realize how overloaded your body is with alcohol.  Do not think that you can drink as much alcohol as you want as long as you drink enough caffeine.  A liter of Jack Daniels will kill you no matter how much coke you take with it.  As mentioned before, caffeine cannot prevent alcohol poisoning.  Also, caffeine cannot counter the long term damage caused by alcohol.  Drinking large amounts of alcohol over an extended period of time can result in brain damage and cirrhosis of the liver, which caffeine does not stop.  Finally, drinking too much caffeine also has its own risks.  Caffeine causes an increase in both heart rate and blood pressure, both of which have potentially serious consequences.  Be careful of drinking to much caffeine in order to counter alcohol.

 

The verdict

 

            Mixing alcohol and caffeine has both positives and negatives.  Caffeine can stave off some of the less desirable effects of alcohol, while leaving some of the better ones.  But, you may not realize how much alcohol you have actually consumed.  I say; if you have enough self control, mix away.  If you do not, it probably is not a good idea.