Caffeine and alcohol: costly combination?
By Mike Madden
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that drinks containing both caffeine and alcohol are now subject to an investigation regarding their safety and legality.
The new combination of substances has been increasingly more popular with college students, though it may pose a danger to the health of students.
"Caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant," said Renee Bateman, Health Promotions Coordinator at SRU's Health Center.
"Therefore, the two substances together create opposite effects within the body. Combined, they could elevate your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to kidney and liver damage."
A report by the Food and Drug Administration estimated that about 26 percent of college students have taken part in the combination of substances.
Currently, the FDA has not approved of the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages.
Therefore, the substance is considered unsafe and illegal under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Bateman said that the combination of the two substances poses a threat to the heart, which is the main concern of the FDA moving forward in the investigation.
"Knowing the harm it can cause now, I don't know if I think it's OK to drink," said Courtney Goodman, a junior exercise science major.
"I don't think I'd really drink something with that combination now, like a Redbull, or let my friends drink one either."
Foods and subsequent ingredients approved by the FDA are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).
According to the US Newswire story, for a substance to be GRAS, there must be "evidence of its safety at the levels used and a basis to conclude that this evidence is generally known and accepted by qualified experts."
Despite the growing concerns over whether the duo of caffeine and alcohol poses a major threat to one's health, some, including Bateman, are still waiting for more information to appear before making any conclusions.
The new combination of substances has been increasingly more popular with college students, though it may pose a danger to the health of students.
"Caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant," said Renee Bateman, Health Promotions Coordinator at SRU's Health Center.
"Therefore, the two substances together create opposite effects within the body. Combined, they could elevate your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to kidney and liver damage."
A report by the Food and Drug Administration estimated that about 26 percent of college students have taken part in the combination of substances.
Currently, the FDA has not approved of the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages.
Therefore, the substance is considered unsafe and illegal under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Bateman said that the combination of the two substances poses a threat to the heart, which is the main concern of the FDA moving forward in the investigation.
"Knowing the harm it can cause now, I don't know if I think it's OK to drink," said Courtney Goodman, a junior exercise science major.
"I don't think I'd really drink something with that combination now, like a Redbull, or let my friends drink one either."
Foods and subsequent ingredients approved by the FDA are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).
According to the US Newswire story, for a substance to be GRAS, there must be "evidence of its safety at the levels used and a basis to conclude that this evidence is generally known and accepted by qualified experts."
Despite the growing concerns over whether the duo of caffeine and alcohol poses a major threat to one's health, some, including Bateman, are still waiting for more information to appear before making any conclusions.
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