Energy drinks, often marketed to teens, can contain between 6mg and 240mg of caffeine per serve. Photo / Natalie Slade
For teenagers, mixing energy drinks with alcohol is like taking cocaine, according to a new study.
United States scientist Richard Van Rijn, an assistant professor in medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Purdue University, says the harmful cocktail appears to trigger changes in the adolescent brain similar to taking the
illicit drug, and that the effects last into adulthood.
Energy drinks, often marketed to teens, can contain between 6mg and 240mg of caffeine per serve. For many this is about 10 times the caffeine in soda - a common beverage mixed with alcohol.
But little is known about the health effects of the drinks when consumed with alcohol.
A new study, published in journal PLOS ONE, found adolescent mice given caffeinated alcohol became increasingly more active, much like mice given cocaine. Neurochemical changes in the brain were noted.
