Energy drinks, alcohol possibly increases drunken driving
Marisa Roper
Energy drinks are becoming more and more popular, even though most experts aren’t even sure of the long-term effects these drinks can have on a person.Caffeine experts at John Hopkins Univeristy have been studying the effects of caffeine. Because of the high doses of caffeine in energy drinks, Hopkins researchers have said that these drinks should carry prominent labels and note caffeine doses and potential health risks.
“When experts at John Hopkins University become worried, I become worried,” said Lori Zienkewicz, an MCC food and nutrition faculty member.
Caffeine is the number one ingredient in these drinks, with some brands putting up to 500 mg in one can.
An overdose of caffeine is classified as “caffeine intoxication” and is marked by anxiety, heart palpitations, nervousness, insomnia and, in some cases, even death.
“It’s pretty scary,” Zienkewicz said.
Zienkewicz is also concerned about parental guidance, and said that parents need to teach their children that these drinks aren’t good for them.
Another major ingredient in these drinks is a natural amino acid called taurine.
While taurine itself isn’t a major threat to a person’s health, taurine mixed with the high amounts of caffeine can be dangerous.
Mixing energy drinks with alcohol just adds to the health risks. Energy drinks are so high in caffeine that when someone adds alcohol, a depressant, to the stimulants in the energy drinks, they may feel like they’re more alert than they really are.
Their skills may become impaired but the person won’t feel impaired, Zienkewicz said.
This popular habit can potentially increase drunk driving; people may believe themselves to be sober when they are still intoxicated.
Energy drinks often include other ingredients that are advertised to increase mental functioning or promote weight loss, but none of these suppliments, be it ginseg, glucuronlactone, or citramax, have any scientifically proven benefits.
“These ingredients are dangerous and college students shouldn’t drink more than one a day,” Zienkewicz said, though she said she thinks it would be best if students didn’t have any at all.
She said to view the human body as a car.
A person isn’t filling their car adequately when they consume these drinks.
“You wouldn’t put leaded gas in an unleaded tank. We just won’t put bad fuel in our cars,” she said.
Instead, Zienkewicz recommended eating well and getting six to eight hours of sleep a night.
“There’s no drink that can replace food minerals,” she said.
Even sports drinks aren’t necessary.
She said the only person who should consume something like a Gatorade is someone who works outside all day as a part of their job and perspires profusely.
A person running on a treadmill needs nothing but water to remain hydrated.
Energy comes from calories, not sugar water, Zienkewicz said
The “energy” the energy drink industry is talking about is only a stimulant effect.
“People haven’t gained anything but weight from these drinks,” Zienkewicz said.
“I see them and my skin crawls. Regulations for these drinks may come in five or six years because experts may push for mandatory labeling laws, though labeling may be all that consumers get,” Zienkewicz said.
