In another of those studies that pinpoint the sheer lack of work available to research scientists, results have shown that combining Red Bull and Alcohol can help you get drunker.
What I have to say to them is simple: duh!
But let's just say upfront, I'm not advocating drinking irresponsibly. But neither am I advocating researching irresponsibly, and that sure seems to be what is happening here.
Let's look at the results of the study first though. Apparently, American researchers questioned 4,271 students from 10 U.S. universities across the country, regarding their drinking habits. What they found, very simply, was increased drunkenness.
In the study, the students who mixed caffeine with their drink drank up to 36% more than those who didn't. In addition, those who mixed were found to get drunk twice as often in a week.
"We knew anecdotally - from speaking with students, and from researching internet blogs and websites - that college students mix energy drinks and alcohol in order to drink more, and to drink longer," said study leader Dr Mary Claire O'Brien, from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Centre in New Carolina. �But we were surprised that the risk of serious and potentially deadly consequences is so much higher for those who mixed energy drinks with alcohol, even when we adjusted for the amount of alcohol."
From what is made available in the information made available, it seems that the Red Bull does its job and provides more energy, so that one can increase their drinking time. Subsequently, they take in more alcohol than if they were not to mix.
The real kickers are the outrageous conclusions that they are making from their study. The greatest is that they found that those who mixed were twice as likely to be taken advantage of sexually. The second outrageous conclusion they made was that they were twice as likely to travel with a drunk driver.
First of all, what aspect of the test provided those results? Seriously, did they bring in a trio of sleazes who would attempt to hit on people? Did they have a selection of drunk drivers lined up ready to turn the key and speed off?
The only conclusion that should be made from mixing your drinks is that you get drunker. There are no two ways about it, anything else is just scaremongering. Yes, of course if you get drunker you are going to make stupider and stupider decisions. Yes, of course if you get drunker you're going to be more careless.
But no, Red Bull does not have any other affect on the drinker than giving them the opportunity to get drunker. Seriously people, who paid for this research?
Joshua Hill, a Geek’s-Geek from Melbourne, Australia, Josh is an aspiring author with dreams of publishing his epic fantasy, currently in the works, sometime in the next 5 years. A techie, nerd, sci-fi nut and bookworm.
