OTTAWA, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A growing trend among students and young people -- mixing energy drinks with alcohol -- is a potentially dangerous gamble, Health Canada said Wednesday.
Canadian statistics are similar to those in the United States where young people, particularly college and university students, are mixing caffeinated drinks with alcohol.
"When drinking caffeinated energy drinks that have been mixed with alcohol, consumers may not feel the symptoms of alcohol intoxication, and the caffeine of the energy drink may mask the drowsiness associated with alcohol intake," the agency said. "This may increase the potential for dehydration [and] over-consumption of alcohol which could lead to alcohol poisoning, and alcohol-related injury."
The agency noted an increasing number of prepackaged, premixed alcoholic caffeinated energy drinks are available commercially. While legal, none have been approved by Health Canada, the release said.
