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Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks: Consumption Patterns and Motivations for Use in U.S. College Students

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  • Cecile A. Marczinski

    (Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41042, USA)

Abstract

Binge drinking in college students is widespread and known to cause significant harms and health hazards for the drinker. One factor that may be exacerbating hazardous drinking in young people is the new popular trend of consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED). However, rates of AmED use and motivations for AmED consumption in college students have not been well established. In this study, 706 undergraduate college students from a university in the United States participated in a web-based survey that queried self-reported alcohol, energy drink, and AmED use. In addition, motivations for using AmEDs were assessed. The results indicated that for all participants, 81% reported that they have tried at least one energy drink in the past and 36% reported consumption of at least one energy drink in the past 2 weeks. Alcohol consumption patterns were similar to findings from U.S. national surveys of college drinking, as 37% of respondents were classified as binge drinkers and 23% abstained from drinking. In the whole sample (including the alcohol abstainers), 44% reported trying AmED at least once and 9% reported AmED consumption at least once in the past 2 weeks. 78% of respondents agreed with the statement that AmEDs appeal to underage drinkers. When AmED users were asked about various motivations for consuming AmEDs, users reported that they consumed these beverages to get drunk and reduce sedation compared to alcohol alone. In conclusion, the consumption of AmEDs is common in U.S. college students. Motivations for using AmEDs include the reduction of the sedative effects of alcohol, an important interoceptive cue that one should stop drinking.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecile A. Marczinski, 2011. "Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks: Consumption Patterns and Motivations for Use in U.S. College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:8:y:2011:i:8:p:3232-3245:d:13417
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wechsler, H. & Dowdall, G.W. & Davenport, A. & Castillo, S., 1995. "Correlates of college student binge drinking," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 85(7), pages 921-926.
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    Cited by:

    1. Trésor Carsi Kuhangana & Taty Muta Musambo & Joseph Pyana Kitenge & Tony Kayembe-Kitenge & Arlène Kazadi Ngoy & Paul Musa Obadia & Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu & Angélique Kamugisha & Eric Deconinck & , 2021. "Energy Drink Consumption among Adolescents Attending Schools in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Dariusz Nowak & Artur Jasionowski, 2016. "Analysis of Consumption of Energy Drinks by a Group of Adolescent Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-11, July.
    3. Matthew J. Fagan & Katie M. Di Sebastiano & Wei Qian & Scott T. Leatherdale & Guy Faulkner, 2021. "The Energy to Smoke: Examining the Longitudinal Association between Beverage Consumption and Smoking and Vaping Behaviours among Youth in the COMPASS Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Karen Hughes & Zara Quigg & Mark A. Bellis & Amador Calafat & Ninette van Hasselt & Matej Kosir & Lotte Voorham & Ferry X. Goossens & Mariangels Duch & Montse Juan, 2012. "Drunk and Disorganised: Relationships between Bar Characteristics and Customer Intoxication in European Drinking Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.

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