Acaffeinated alcoholic drink is adrink that contains bothalcohol (also known formally asethanol) and a significant amount ofcaffeine. Caffeine, astimulant, masks some of thedepressant effects of alcohol.[1]In 2010 and 2011, this type of drink faced criticism for posing health risks to its drinkers. In some places there is a ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks.
Sometimes, caffeinated alcoholic drinks are made by mixing existing caffeinated drinks (coffee,energy drinks,cola) with alcoholic drinks.
The main ingredients in caffeinated alcoholic drinks arealcohol andcaffeine. The caffeine is often added by ingredients likeenergy drinks,coffee,tea, ordark chocolate. A well-known and popular such drink isIrish coffee.
In 2010, the FDA advised that caffeinated alcoholic beverages should not be consumed because of the counteracting effects of caffeine and alcohol. The FDA posited that caffeine often causes consumers to drink more than they normally would because caffeine can mask some of the sensory cues individuals might normally rely on to determine their level of intoxication. This masking of intoxication then leads individuals to engage in behaviors that they would otherwise avoid if they understood their true level of intoxication.[3] Consuming high levels of caffeine was associated with more alcohol-related consequences than when consuming alcohol on its own, even when consuming relatively little alcohol. It may be that caffeine causes individuals to focus on the stimulant effects of the intoxication, which have been associated with greater perceived intoxication than the depressant effects of alcohol.[4]
It is inferred that caffeinated alcoholic drinks cause one to act in ways that would be less likely if one were drinking non-caffeinated alcoholic drinks.
Universities have conducted studies to compare the outcomes of the consumption of regular alcoholic drinks and of caffeinated alcoholic drinks:
InCanada, regulations restrict the manufacture and sale of caffeinated alcoholic drinks unless the caffeine comes from a natural ingredient such as guarana; caffeine as an ingredient cannot be directly added to an alcoholic drink.[9]
SeveralScottish politicians and social activists have singled out the a caffeinated alcoholic drinkBuckfast Tonic Wine as being particularly responsible for crime, disorder, and general social deprivation in certain communities. There have been numerous calls for the drink to be banned (either throughout the country or in certain areas or shops), made more expensive to dissuade people from buying the product, or sold in plastic bottles to reduceglassing incidents.Helen Liddell, formerSecretary of State for Scotland, called for the wine to be banned.[10] In 2005, Scottish Justice MinisterCathy Jamieson suggested that retailers should stop selling the wine.[11] All of these initiatives have been countered by lawyers acting for Buckfast distributors, J. Chandler & Company, inAndover.[10][12]
In January 2010, aBBC investigation revealed thatBuckfast Tonic Wine had been mentioned in 5,638 crime reports in theStrathclyde area of Scotland from 2006 to 2009, equating to an average of three per day. In 2017, Scottish Police reported there had been 6,500 crimes related to the drink in the previous two years.[13]
The adverse effects of caffeinated alcoholic drinks have led to increased regulation. Under theFederal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a substance intentionally added to food (such as caffeine in alcoholic drinks) is deemed "unsafe" and is unlawful unless its particular use has been approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulation. The substance is subject to a prior sanction until the substance is Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS).[14] In order for a substance to be characterized as GRAS, there must be sufficient evidence to prove its safety; this evidence should be generally known and accepted by qualified professionals.[9] The FDA did not approve the use of caffeine in alcoholic drinks, and thus the drinks cannot be legally marketed. As a result, the FDA sent letters to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic drinks (Phusion Projects, Charge Beverages Corporation, New Century Brewing Company, and United Brands Company, Inc.) to alert them that the agency would be considering whether caffeine can lawfully be added to alcoholic drinks.[9] These letters also gave the manufacturers fifteen days to stop the addition of caffeine to the alcoholic drinks or to stop selling the drinks altogether.
TheFederal Trade Commission (FTC) also took action against the four companies, warning that their marketing tactics might violate federal law and urging them to take swift and appropriate steps to protect consumers.[15]
CDC recommends against the combination of alcohol and caffeine.[16]
TheDietary Guidelines for Americans recommend avoidance of concomitant consumption of alcohol and caffeine, as this may lead to increased alcohol consumption, with a higher risk of alcohol-associated injury.
In 2009, the FDA required several manufacturers to remove caffeine from theiralcopops including City Brewing of La Crosse, Wisc. which makes Hard Wired and 24/7; Gaamm Imports Inc., of Deerfield Beach, Fla. which makes Booya Espresso Silver Tequila and Caffeine, and United Brands Co., maker ofJoose, Max Vibe, Max Fury, Max Live and 3Sum. Anheuser-Busch and Miller have stopped making their caffeinated alcoholic drinks,Tilt,Bud Extra andSparks.[17]Rhythm was also banned 2009.
The day before the FDA sent out the warning letters, Phusion Projects (nowFour Loko), a five-year-old Chicago company, said it would stop putting caffeine in the drinks and put a non-caffeinated version of the drink on the market in December 2010. In a statement, the company's founders said that they still believed it was safe to blend caffeine and alcohol but wanted to cooperate with regulators.[15] The FDA continues work with Phusion Projects and other manufacturers to assure their products meet safety standards.[3]
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