By: Shannon Haselhuhn, UI Health Education Coordinator
In fall of 2010, police were called to a house party near Central Washington University in Ellensburg. First responders to the party found dozens of students critically ill, while nine were rushed to a hospital and one received CPR.
Students at the party had passed out throughout the house, some fighting to stay conscious as their eyes rolled back in their heads. Police and medical professionals assumed a “date rape drug” was administered. As they dug a little deeper, they found that the culprit was actually Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink that could then be purchased at most convenience stores. At the time, Four Loko, nicknamed “blackout in a can,” was a 24 oz can containing the alcohol equivalent of six light beers, and the caffeine of nearly two cups of coffee. The masking effects that caffeine has on the effects of alcohol caused many of these students to nearly drink themselves to death.
This and similar instances at colleges across the country created a buzz around the topic of caffeinated alcoholic drinks, causing the FDA to get involved. The manufacturers of these products have complied with their warnings and either ceased production or at least removed the caffeine.
Problem solved? Not really. While you might not be able to purchase these bright, sugary, ready-made drinks at the gas station anymore, the alcohol-plus-caffeine concoction is still the drink of choice for many college students. Drinks like Red Bull and vodka or “jager bombs” rank among the best-selling mixed drinks in bars and clubs serving the college population. Somehow the warnings of increased incidents of unwanted sex, alcohol poisoning and heart attack seem to be dismissed.
There are many factors involved in the overwhelming danger of these drinks. Caffeine, as a stimulant, can make you feel less intoxicated than you actually are, which leads to overconsumption. The mixture of alcohol and caffeine can also mask your body’s natural warning signs of sleepiness and sedation that would normally indicate it’s time to call it a night.
So, as you start this school year and celebrate the excitement of what a new year brings, make decisions that support why you are actually here – you know, a college degree. Alcohol use in any form comes with great responsibility, and if you choose to partake, consider putting some “rules in place” to help keep you and your friends safe.
Know your limit. Set a limit before you go out, and keep track of that limit.
Eat — don’t drink on an empty stomach.
Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Designate a driver (and treat them like gold!).
Go out with people you trust and stay with them.
Keep an eye on your drink and don’t accept drinks from others.
Avoid overly sugary or caffeinated mixed drinks that can mask the amount of alcohol you are consuming.
Avoid drinking games.
Know the signs of alcohol poisoning and call for help when someone needs it.