Many alcohol consumers who prefer diluting alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks may be exposed to numerous problems upon intoxication.

According to a study by the University of Victoria in Canada, mixing alcoholic and caffeinated drinks has far-reaching detrimental impacts to the consumers.

The study reveals that in most circumstances consumers develop lapses related to judgments especially after consuming such mixed drinks.

The study involved the sampling of responses from 13 respondents, where 10 of them confessed having mixed alcohol and energy drinks.

These participants also admitted that they developed impulsive but dangerous behaviours which the study ties to caffeine consumption.

Some of the potential dangers include contemplation of suicide, overdrinking based on false judgment, accidents associated with drunk driving, self-reported injuries and many more.

Dubbed as ‘Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink’, AmED, the study took 35 years to be completed and was first published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs in March 2017.

Perhaps another puzzling revelation of the study is that most of the individuals that consume AmED are likely to consume stimulant drugs as well.

They can easily be drawn into using other illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and bhang because AmED makes them eager to experiment with new drugs.

Kenya is a ‘drinking nation’

This Canadian-based study is a less impressive news for some Kenyans who like their alcoholic drinks moderated with soft drinks.

That many Kenyans consume the alcoholic drinks may present another worry because this would elevate their vulnerability to using AmED.

According to the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, NACADA, alcohol consumers currently stand at 16% and 11% for urban and rural dwellers respectively.

NACADA adds that Nairobi leads with 15.7% where consumers rely on packaged or legal alcoholic drinks.

With the high consumption of alcohol being noticed in the urban areas such as Nairobi, health risks cited by the Canadian study may present a new challenge.