Marczinski Cecile A
Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
Adv Nutr. 2015 Jan 15;6(1):96-101. doi: 10.3945/an.114.007393. Print 2015 Jan.
Energy drinks, the fastest growing segment in the beverage market, have become popular mixers with alcohol. The emerging research examining the use of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmEDs) indicates that the combination of caffeine-containing energy drinks with alcohol may be riskier than the use of alcohol alone. The public health concerns arising from AmED use are documented in different research domains. Epidemiologic studies reveal that the consumption of AmEDs is frequent among young and underage drinkers, demographic groups that are more likely to experience the harms and hazards associated with alcohol use. In addition, for all consumers, elevated rates of binge drinking and risk of alcohol dependence have been associated with AmED use when compared to alcohol alone. Results from laboratory studies help explain why AmED use is associated with excessive intake of alcohol. When an energy drink (or caffeine) is combined with alcohol, the desire (or urge) to drink more alcohol is more pronounced in both humans and animals than with the same dose of alcohol alone. The experience of drinking alcohol appears to be more rewarding when combined with energy drinks. Given that caffeine in other foods and beverages increases preference for those products, further research on AmEDs may elucidate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to alcohol dependence.
能量饮料是饮料市场中增长最快的细分品类，已成为颇受欢迎的酒精混合饮品。有关酒精与能量饮料混合饮用（AmEDs）的新研究表明，含咖啡因的能量饮料与酒精混合饮用可能比单纯饮酒风险更高。不同研究领域都记录了因饮用AmEDs而引发的公共卫生问题。流行病学研究显示，在年轻饮酒者和未成年饮酒者中，饮用AmEDs的情况很常见，而这些人群更易遭受与饮酒相关的危害和风险。此外，与单纯饮酒相比，所有消费者饮用AmEDs时，暴饮比率升高且酒精依赖风险增加。实验室研究结果有助于解释为何饮用AmEDs会导致过量饮酒。当能量饮料（或咖啡因）与酒精混合时，人类和动物都比单纯饮用相同剂量酒精时更明显地表现出想要喝更多酒的欲望（或冲动）。酒精与能量饮料混合饮用时，饮酒体验似乎更令人满足。鉴于其他食品和饮料中的咖啡因会增加对这些产品的偏好，对AmEDs的进一步研究可能会阐明导致酒精依赖的潜在机制。
