Mixing caffeine with alcohol

I see a lot of information saying that mixing uppers (caffine) and downers (booze) is dangerous. I also see people drink jaegerbombs and vodka redbulls all the time. I host a fair number of gatherings where the goal is have guests not see straight, but also stay alive. What is your experience with this? Could i safely give someone a variation of a long island icetea (everclear instead of vodka though) that has a 5 hour energy mixed in if they where to only drink one glass of it (14 oz), then moving on to regular drinks?

a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

Just dont mix booze with kava kava.

originally posted by: IgnoranceIsntBlisss
a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

Just dont mix booze with kava kava.

I had never heard of kava kava before. Internet says its a sedative? My goal is to keep people more awake as we play video games or board games (D&D 5th ed), but still be relaxed.

They'll be fine, loads of people drink coffee and drink alcohol.

Stimulants that are dangerous however are things like Methamphetamine and Cocaine, which combine to create new chemicals which can kill, however, many people do uppers (E, MDMA etc) and drink and survive, some unfortunately do not.

Taking stimulants whilst under the effect of sedative medications can be dangerous, things like benzodiazepines (Diazepam), Opiates/Opiods mixed with uppers can and do kill regularly.

But those who take opiates or benzodiazepines may drink energy drinks and they do not die from it, as far as I am aware.

Energy Drinks aren't particularly healthy, but as long as it's only an option and people can choose whether they drink that or something else you should be fine.


However, here's some things to note.

1. Alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant, the amount of caffeine giving you a rush may mask your current level of intoxication, if in excess the energy drink counteracts the affect of the alcohol until the stimulant runs out, then the depressant is given full reign and you may be drunker than you think.

2. Alcohol and Caffeine can both dehydrate you, I recommend offering water, I know it sounds lame, but it will help prevent a hangover if you are properly hydrated, dehydration is the biggest risk with alcohol and stimulants whether it be legal or illegal substances, it's normally a lack of fluid that causes the damage.

3. People with high blood pressure / Diabetes / or high heart rates should avoid taking stimulants because of high sugar content in alcohol + energy drinks, plus the caffeine increases heart rates.

Basically moderation is key, if you want to play games you do not want your guests inebriated.

My opinion...

As an ex $300 per night bar tab kinda Irishman, that mix is the devil.

The reason Jager bombs or Vegas bombs are so bad is because the caffeine suppresses the alcohol, but when it starts to wear off, it hits you like a brick wall. All at once. Probably on the " I feel fine" drive home.

Alcohol is life-wrecking garbage anyway. I've seen too many people die, don't contribute to that bs.
Getting wasted is for frat boys.

This topic is reminding me of 4 Locos. I about fought a dolphin at the beach for looking at me sideways.

Stick to natural things.

Take it easy on the caffeinated beverages, cardiac arrhythmia caused by caffeine toxicity is a very real danger and it's all too easy to over do it.

I'm on my phone so it's difficult for me, but a cursory google search will yield results on the subject, caffeine kills.

Take care, and all the best

a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

I prefer methyl chloride, chilled (of course), in a martini glass, with a cocktail onion.

Kids these days??

Whats wrong with an old fashioned shot of whiskey???
Coffee is for the morning??

Mix at your own risk.

Try an espresso Martini,

How to make a good one

50 mil of fresh coffee from the machine.
50 mil of vanilla vodka (Absolut is good for this)
25 mil kahlua
12.5 mil gomme (sugar syrup)

Shake as hard as possible and double strain into a chilled glass.

Wakes and mucks you up.

a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

Never had issues personally. Medically speaking... caffeine takes 8-12hrs. to leave you system.... and one of it's actions is it constructs the blood flow throughout the body.

Caffeine is a stimulant and diuretic.. Alcohol is a system depressant. Opposites...

Together they can be deadly and in conflict with each other.

EMT

Taurine in these energy drinks is not really bad, in fact it is a semi-essential amino acid which works as a neuromodulator. The caffeine is an adjuvant and so is the sugar, they form a sort of medicine. You should eat some food containing molybdenum, like nuts or something, with this energy drink to help work with the taurine.

I would think mixing this with alcohol would not be good myself and using energy drinks should only be done in moderation. One a day would be beneficial for many people, more than one a day might give a person too much of certain B vitamins, especially if they are taking supplements too.

I will not recommend nor condemn the use of the energy drinks, it is up to the individual if they want to take them. I would not think that taking them mixed with alcohol would be a good thing to do, but I have not fully researched the interactions with alcohol. Alcohol is an adjuvant to, it is a medicine of sorts. There is research out there that the combo of the energy drinks with alcohol can be bad. Just like anything, moderation should be observed. Also methyl and ethyl need niacin to help detox, so caffeine and alcohol need niacin to help detox, but that combination can lead to elevated levels of ammonia in the blood. The energy drinks do have niacin in them often, but just increasing a reaction does not mean you are fixing anything, there are other chemicals to consider which need to be dealt with.

originally posted by: DrumsRfun
Kids these days??

Whats wrong with an old fashioned shot of whiskey???
Coffee is for the morning??

Mix at your own risk.

That's the sensible way to do things.

Moderation is wisdom,don`t drink too much alcohol,wait till you`re sober before driving,don`t take enough caffein to give you a heart attack,don`t have 4 girlfriends.... well...Ok just know the limits,look out for each other while drinking and don`t let your friends accidently hurt theirselves.STAY AWAY FROM METH,thats the worst stuff,seen way too many lives ruined by this crap.Caffeine is safe within reason and legal,but mixing anything that pumps you up with a downer is a bad idea.Just use common sense and be safe being,too many people ending up dead nowadays for no good reason.

originally posted by: Whoisjohngalt

originally posted by: IgnoranceIsntBlisss
a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

Just dont mix booze with kava kava.

I had never heard of kava kava before. Internet says its a sedative? My goal is to keep people more awake as we play video games or board games (D&D 5th ed), but still be relaxed.

A low alcohol content beer might be your best bet,a active game and light buzz from a few brews should work nicely.We usually have moonshine when we are playing cards,but we sip slowly and control ourselves,knowing when to quit comes with experience.

originally posted by: ridgerunner
Moderation is wisdom,don`t drink too much alcohol,wait till you`re sober before driving,don`t take enough caffein to give you a heart attack,don`t have 4 girlfriends.... well...Ok just know the limits,look out for each other while drinking and don`t let your friends accidently hurt theirselves.STAY AWAY FROM METH,thats the worst stuff,seen way too many lives ruined by this crap.Caffeine is safe within reason and legal,but mixing anything that pumps you up with a downer is a bad idea.Just use common sense and be safe being,too many people ending up dead nowadays for no good reason.

Yeah, it may be better to date four cindy's so you do not screw up their name, but eventually you do walk into the bar and see them all sitting together. When they discover that their boyfriends are all the same they get kind of cranky and a cat fight erupts.

Spanish coffee. Classic and very tasty.
Jaegerbombs are terrible. Taste like dog $#&+. But wreck you. I did 6 once at a ska show. Danced all night with the worst hangover the next day.

originally posted by: DrumsRfun
Kids these days??

You're not cool until you do vodka enemas and snort condoms doncha know

a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

Mixing uppers and downers can potentially be very problematic, yes. It's about moderation.

Now that's assuming a healthy person. There are also strong considerations like blood pressure issues, et cetera.

Would I want drink Everclear with a 5 hour energy? Nah lol. Vodka + Red Bull is enough for me..

a reply to: Whoisjohngalt

Mixing caffeine and alcohol makes as much sense to me as lowering the suspension on a 4X4 extended cab longbed Chevy, asking your wife to put on a snowsuit before bed, a Metallica concert in a funeral home, hunting deer with a vegan, condoms made from swiss cheese, watching an education video on the life lessons of Spongebob Squarepants episodes, pissing yourself because it's raining and you're afraid your junk will get wet, inhaling underwater while swimming, eating peanuts while chewing bubble gum, loading a shotgun shell with pudding mix, fishing for king salmon with an ultralight rod, wearing mukluks to the beach on a summer day, punching yourself in the face because you have a headache, opening a window because the room is too cold, watering your lawn in a rainstorm, mowing the sidewalk, a mechanic getting a manicure, a woman wearing a jock strap, smoking in an oxygen bar, ordering pizza in a Chinese restaurant, farting in church, buying a leash for a goldfish, knitting mittens for a double amputee, whistling while eating crackers... in other words, it makes no logical sense. Pick a desired state of mind: tired and mellow or jacked and ready to go and stick with it.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

My brother caught a record-breaking trout (17lbs if I recall) out of a local lake (NorCal) using a cheap collapsable rod and 4lb test line If my brother can do that then surely I can use swiss cheese condoms.