New research has found that combining caffeine-loaded energy drinks with alcohol increases the risk of injury from falling, tripping or motor vehicle accidents.
Researchers at Canada's Victoria University recently analysed the results of 13 prior studies and found that most reported a higher rate of injury when alcohol was paired with energy drinks than from alcohol alone.
The study - published in the latest edition of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs - has prompted the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to issue a warning about the potent combination, saying the physical consequences are often underestimated.
The researchers found that 10 out of the 13 studies they reviewed established a link between the use of alcohol mixed with energy drinks and increased risk of injury.
"It has been estimated that the number of emergency ward visits nearly doubled between 2007 and 2011, with 13% to 16% of the admissions linked to mixing alcohol with energy drinks.
"The increase in risk of injury related to alcohol mixed with energy drinks is thought to be due to both increased alcohol consumption and a diminished sense of perceived intoxication."
The council's Adrie Vermeulen said mixing "uppers" and "downers" was a "long-standing practice" among people who abused substances.
"The concern is that the physical and psychological consequences of combining energy drinks and alcohol are underestimated. The caffeine in energy drinks is a central nervous system stimulant and alcohol is a central nervous system depressant."
Energy drinks helped users "sober up" so they did not realise the extent of their intoxication."
The combination could put a strain on vital organs.
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