Transcript 2013 W-F Conference Energy Drinks and Alcohol Presentation

Energy Drinks and
Alcohol
Presented by:
Gary Seech
Objectives

Identify common ingredients in energy
drinks and energy drinks with alcohol

Understand markets and marketing
strategies

Identify and Understand the risks
associated with these beverages.
What Exactly Are We
Talking About?

Energy drinks like Monster, Redbull, etc.

Energy drinks that are used as mixers or
contain alcohol
Energy Drinks

The first energy drink to come to the US
was Jolt in 1985 and they became hugely
popular with Red Bull in 1997

Eventually used as mixers in bars and
nightclubs with the addition of alcohol

And by 2002 alcoholic energy drinks were
being sold with Sparks being one of the
first
Common Ingredient

Caffeine

Guarana berry

Taurine

Ginseng

Ginkgo

Various other supplements and sometimes
vitamins
Caffeine

It is the most commonly used drug in the
world

It is a central nervous system stimulant.

When taken in small doses it can increase
alertness

Act as a diuretic, removes water from our
bodies
Health Concerns
of Caffeine

In larger doses:

Reduce fine motor coordination

Cause insomnia

Headaches

Nervousness

Raises your blood pressure

Increase heart rate

Can cause dizziness
Health Concerns
of Caffeine

It can be deadly, about 170 mg of caffeine
divided by a person’s body weight
measured in kilograms is a lethal dose.
http://www.energyfiend.com/death-bycaffeine

“Of the 5448 US caffeine overdoses in
2007, 46% occurred in those younger than
19 years old.”
from “Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for
Young People
By Emma Hitt, PhD
Guarana
(Berry)

Grows in Venezuela and Brazil

Popular soft drink in Brazil, unique flavor

Digestive problems, weight loss, mental
clarity, energy
Health Concerns of Guarana

Increases heart rate and blood pressure

Often mixed with other stimulants

Can inhibit sleep

Can cause nervousness
Gaurana.com
Health Concerns of Guarana

Since guarana has the same chemical
characteristic as caffeine, when the two
are mixed, overdose can occur.

Supplements are not regulated, since they
are not considered “food or drug”
Taurine

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a
nonessential amino acid. It is the most
abundant free amino acid in many tissues.

Is found in all tissues but most heavily in
the heart and brain.

Many claims about the health benefits of
taurine supplements have been made but
there is little research to support the
claims.
Ginseng

No approval for ginseng in any food or
beverage

Side effects of ginseng may include
nervousness, agitation, insomnia, diarrhea,
headaches, high blood pressure, and heart
palpitations
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/ginseng/a/gin
seng.htm

because these are considered supplements
and not “food or drugs” there is no regulation
Coffee
Product
serving size
caffeine (mg)
Coffee, brewed
8 ounces
135
G F international Coffee, orange cappuccino
8 ounces
102
Coffee, instant
8 ounces
95
G F international Coffee, Café Vienna
8 ounces
90
Maxwell house Cappuccino, Mocha
8 ounces
60-65
G F international Coffee, Swiss Mocha
8 ounces
55
Maxwell House Cappuccino, French Vanilla/
Irish Cream
8 ounces
45-50
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Amaretto
8 ounces
25-30
G F international Coffee, Viennese chocolate Cafe
8 ounces
26
Tea
Product
serving size
caffeine (mg)
Tea, leaf or bag
8 ounces
50
Snapple Ice Tea
16 oz bot.
48
Lipton Ice Tea mix
8 ounces
25-45
Lipton Tea
8 ounces
35-40
Lipton Ice Tea
16 oz bot.
18-40
Nestea Ice Tea
16 oz bot.
34
Green Tea
8 ounces
30
Arizona Ice Tea
16 oz bot.
15-30
Guarana.com
Things to Consider…

Classified as nutritional supplements, they
avoid the 71 mg limit for caffeine per 12 oz
set for sodas by the FDA.

Caffeine from other additives like guarana,
kola nut, and yerba mate can increase the
amount of caffeine in these drinks to as much
as 400 mg per container.

Consider the daily recommended dose of
caffeine for teens, “100 or 200 milligrams”.
Adults, “200 to 300 milligrams”.
from “Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for Young People”
By Emma Hitt, PhD
Things to Consider…

The number of emergency room visits involving
energy drinks doubled from 2007 to 2011,
reaching more than 20,000, according to a new
government report. During that period, the
popularity of energy drinks has surged on
college campuses, and in bars and convenience
stores, according to ABC News.

About 42 percent of emergency room cases in
2011 involved energy drinks combined with
alcohol or drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin.
Things to Consider…

While men are more likely to buy energy
drinks than are women…

…the number of Emergency room visits
due to energy drink use has doubled for
both sexes.

…this appears to indicate that the use of
energy drinks has increased for both men
and women.
Things to Consider…

Most emergency room visits were from
people ages 18 to 25

…but the group that had the largest
increase by percentage was the group
over the age of 40.
One self survey indicated
that 30-50% of children,
teens and young adults
regularly consumed energy
drinks.
Cocaine in a Can

Promotes drug use?
General Health Concerns

As reported in Germany, Australia, and New
Zealand, adverse outcomes associated with
energy drinks include:

Liver damage

Kidney failure

Respiratory failure

Seizure

Cardiac symptoms and death

Just to name a few…..
from “Energy Drinks Pose Serious
Health Risks for Young People”
By Emma Hitt, PhD
Who Is at Risk

Medical conditions, heart problems, diabetes,
high blood pressure etc.

Workers who’s work environment is typically hot
and requires physical exertion.

Athletes (heat and physical activity)

Sensitive to caffeine or have an adverse reaction
to the other stimulants

those with substance abuse problems, ADHA,
Eating disorders
Examples

Use at ¾ way house

Worker on the line was experiencing chest
pains

Employee kept complaining of feeling
“dizzy” and passed out at work.

The language of energy drinks-slamming
and shooting
Energy Drinks and Alcohol

There are over 300+ recipes that mix
alcohol and energy drinks.

Some common drinks include…

Lager bomb – Red bull & Lagermeister

Vegas bomb – Rum, Schnapps and Red Bull

Green Monster – Vodka & Monster
Energy Drinks and Alcohol

Prepackaged beverages that combine
alcohol with caffeine.

They can include taurine, guarana,
ginseng, and other ingredients commonly
associated with nonalcoholic energy
drinks.
Energy Drinks and Alcohol

They have a higher alcohol content than
an average beer and are less expensive

Easy to obtain and conceal

Difficult for parents/educators/law
enforcement to tell the difference

Marketing is targeted towards teens

Sometimes called “Alco pops”, “Speedball
in a can”, or “chick beer”
Can you tell the difference?
How to Tell the Difference?

There are two things to look for…
1. “ALC/VOL” is printed on the can.
2. Surgeon General’s Warning printed on the
packaging.
Another Drinking Game

Two teams of three

Relay race

Winning team gets
a free round
What Happens
When Mix Them?

Risk of dehydration, both act as diuretics

The stimulants encourage greater
consumption (counteract the depressant
effects of alcohol), increasing the risk of
heavy binge drinking.

Energy drinks contain stimulants and
alcohol is a depressant. Mixing the two
sends conflicting messages to your nervous
system which can cause cardiac related
problems
Confusion for Consumers

Energy drinks “dilute” the alcohol affect

Understand the stimulant affect, but not
how it impacts the affects of intoxication

If it has less calories that orange juice and
gives me more energy it’s better

Don’t understand the high alcohol content
Research

Much of the research shows that college
students:

Were twice as likely to be hurt or injured

Twice as likely to require medical attention

Twice as likely to ride with an intoxicated driver

More than twice as likely to take advantage of
someone else sexually

Almost twice as likely to be taken advantage of
sexually
Caffeine Gum?

Original marketed
for gum chewers
over the age of 25,
this product
contains 40 mg of
caffeine per serving
(one piece)
Caffeine Gum?

Wrigley has pulled its gum, “Alert Energy”
from stores due to pressure from the FDA.

The FDA has been investigating the many
products that contain caffeine currently on
the market.

Some products have been banned and
there are new rules expected for the
marketing of these products
Other Caffeine Gum Products
Questions
Discussion
and
Comments