Caffeinated alcoholic drinks
Caffeinated alcoholic drinks, also known as caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs), are prepackaged drinks that combine alcohol with added caffeine. These beverages typically have a malt or distilled spirits base and are distinct from drinks that contain caffeine as a natural ingredient, such as coffee-flavored cocktails. CABs have faced significant scrutiny and regulation, particularly in the United States, where they were banned after concerns over public safety and health risks associated with their consumption. The caffeine in these drinks can mask feelings of intoxication, leading to dangerous drinking behaviors and potential health issues, including alcohol poisoning and caffeine intoxication.
The history of CABs shows their rise in popularity in the early 2000s, driven by the booming energy drink market. However, after reports of hospitalizations and adverse effects, federal and state authorities began cracking down on their production and sale, leading to a complete ban in the U.S. by 2010. While CABs remain illegal in several countries, the global market for alcoholic energy drinks continues to thrive, with significant sales figures reported. Despite the risks associated with CABs, traditional cocktails that combine alcohol with caffeinated beverages are still enjoyed in bars, highlighting the ongoing interest in these types of drinks.
Caffeinated alcoholic drinks
DEFINITION: A caffeinated alcoholic beverage, or CAB, contains alcohol with caffeine as an additive. It is sold in this combined form. Alcoholic beverages containing caffeine as a natural constituent, such as coffee flavoring, are not in the CAB category.
STATUS: Illegal in the United States (US) and Canada
CLASSIFICATION: Noncontrolled substance
SOURCE: Premixed beverage, usually with a malt or distilled spirits base
TRANSMISSION ROUTE: Ingested orally
History of Use
In 2008, a group of state attorneys general successfully pressed two manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) to stop production of the drinks because of concern for public safety. The attorneys general asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review the safety of the drinks, because the FDA had not approved the use of caffeine in any alcoholic beverages. In 2010, the US banned the marketing and distribution of any prepackaged caffeinated alcoholic drink.
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission warned manufacturers that the marketing and sale of CABs could be considered deceptive and unfair. Manufacturers began to voluntarily withdraw their products from the market until 2010, when a federal ban was issued. Although some companies continue to mark and sell CABs, they run the risk of having their product seized and the potential of facing federal prosecution.
Hypercaffeinated energy drinks entered the US market in 1997, with the market value of energy drinks growing to $5.4 billion in 2006. Looking to expand their profits and customer base, manufacturers began experimenting with caffeine-alcohol energy drink formulas. After many CAB-related hospitalizations of college students and underage drinkers in the fall of 2010, the FDA issued warning letters to manufacturers, leading several states to ban the products. Legislation was initiated in some states to remove CABs from convenience stores and to require that they be sold in liquor stores. In 2024, CABs are illegal in all US states. A number of other countries, including Canada and Mexico, have also placed restrictions on the production and sale of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, in 2021 the market value of alcoholic energy drinks worldwide was $23.2 billion. Cocktails that mix alcohol with caffeinated beverages are not illegal to sell at bars in the US and remain popular.
Effects and Potential Risks
The caffeine in a CAB masks the consumer’s sense of inebriation, leading to a state of intoxication known as wide-awake drunkenness. In this physical state, a person may drink to the point of alcohol poisoning, putting them in danger of blackouts, seizures, acute mania, stroke, impaired driving, sexual assault, or even death.
Caffeine intoxication can lead to high blood pressure, restlessness, insomnia, tremors, rapid heartbeat, psychomotor agitation, major depression, and panic disorder. Users can develop a tolerance for and dependence on alcohol and caffeine. Addiction specialists view this combination as a gateway for other forms of drug dependence. Research shows many college students continue to mix alcohol and caffeinated energy drinks on their own.
Bibliography
Benac, Nancy. "United States Food and Drug Administration Signals Crackdown on Caffeinated Alcohol Drinks." Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 183, 2011, pp. E47–48.
"Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages." FDA, 19 Dec. 2017, www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/caffeinated-alcoholic-beverages. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
"Fact Sheets: Alcohol and Caffeine." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Oct. 2018, www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/caffeine-and-alcohol.htm. Accessed 15 Feb. 2019.
O’Brien, Mary Claire, et al. "Caffeinated Cocktails." Academic Emergency Medicine, vol. 15, 2008, pp. 453–60.
Reissig, Chad J., Eric C. Strain, and Roland R. Griffiths. "Caffeinated Energy Drinks: A Growing Problem." Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 99, 2009, pp. 1–10.
Ridder, M. "Energy Drinks Market Worldwide - Statistics & Facts." Statista, 15 Mar. 2024, www.statista.com/topics/10313/energy-drinks-worldwide. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
Todd, Carolyn L. "What Actually Happens When You Combine Alcohol and Caffeine?" Self, 29 June 2018, www.self.com/story/effects-of-alcohol-and-caffeine. Accessed 15 Feb. 2019.