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Toxic Cocktail for disaster-"Energy Drinks" and Driving

We know drinking and driving can be lethal, but did you know that consuming caffeinated "energy drinks" mixed with alcohol could put you at even higher risk?

As a local  accident and DUI/DWI lawyer, I have seen the life-altering effects of drinking and driving.  We now know that "energy drinks" (like "Red Bull" and "Monster") plus alcohol is an extremely toxic mix with potentially lethal side effects. This is especially vital information to share with college-aged consumers-who are often the target population of the $5 billon "energy drink" industry.

A UF study found that partiers who consumed energy drinks mixed with alcohol were three times more likely to be highly intoxicated and four times as likely to intend to drive as compared to persons who only drank only alcohol.

Drinking caffeine and alcohol results in a wide-awake drunkenness-that leads to riskier behaviors. Research shows the caffeine stimulant overrides the alcohol depressant, aggravating the level of intoxication.

Participants in the study who consumed an alcoholic energy drink blew, on average, a BAC of 0.109, which is above the 0.08 legal limit.  

In 2008, approximately 11,773 people died in alcohol related crashes involving a drunk driver with a BAC of more than 0.08, making up 31.6 percent of all traffic fatalities that year.

Remember, the best way to be safe on the road and avoid the potentially life alerting consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, a DUI arrest, charge and conviction is to not drink and drive! 

For more information on this important topic:

http://www.madd.org/about-us/about-us/statistics.aspx

I only had one drink how could that put me over the limit?

What am I facing with a DUI arrest in Gainesville, Florida? Whats the reality of a DUI charge in Alachua County? Consequences?

UF Study: Mixing energy dringks, liquor a dangerous combination