Energy drinks mixed with alcohol linked to casual sex: study

Researchers from the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) found that college students who consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmEDs) were more likely to report having a casual partner or being intoxicated during their most recent sexual encounter.

"The results seem to indicate that AmEDs may play a role in the hook-up culture that exists on many college campuses," said study author Kathleen E Miller, senior research scientist at UB's RIA.

"The problem is that casual or intoxicated sex can increase the risk of unwanted outcomes, like unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual assault and depression," Miller said in a statement.

Previous research has linked energy drink consumption with other dangerous behaviours drunken driving, binge drinking and fighting.

"Mixing energy drinks with alcohol can lead to unintentional overdrinking, because the caffeine makes it harder to assess your own level of intoxication," says Miller.

"AmEDs have stronger priming effects than alcohol alone," she added. "In other words, they increase the craving for another drink, so that you end up drinking more overall," she said.

Regardless of their AmED use, participants in the study were more likely to use a condom during sex with a casual partner than during sex with a steady partner, consistent with previous research, Miller noted.

The study will be published in the print edition of Journal of Caffeine Research.

The research included 648 participants (47.5 per cent female) enrolled in introductory-level courses at a large public university. They ranged in age from 18 to 40 but mostly clustered at the lower end of the age spectrum. More than 60 per cent were younger than 21.

According to the study's findings, nearly one in three sexually active students (29.3 per cent) reported using AmEDs during the month prior to the survey.

At their most recent sexual encounter, 45.1 per cent of the participants reported having a casual partner, 24.8 per cent reported being intoxicated and 43.6 per cent reported that they did not use a condom.

  

Researchers from the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) found that college students who consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmEDs) were more likely to report having a casual partner or being intoxicated during their most recent sexual encounter.

"The results seem to indicate that AmEDs may play a role in the hook-up culture that exists on many college campuses," said study author Kathleen E Miller, senior research scientist at UB's RIA.

"The problem is that casual or intoxicated sex can increase the risk of unwanted outcomes, like unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual assault and depression," Miller said in a statement.

Previous research has linked energy drink consumption with other dangerous behaviours drunken driving, binge drinking and fighting.

"Mixing energy drinks with alcohol can lead to unintentional overdrinking, because the caffeine makes it harder to assess your own level of intoxication," says Miller.

"AmEDs have stronger priming effects than alcohol alone," she added. "In other words, they increase the craving for another drink, so that you end up drinking more overall," she said.

Regardless of their AmED use, participants in the study were more likely to use a condom during sex with a casual partner than during sex with a steady partner, consistent with previous research, Miller noted.

The study will be published in the print edition of Journal of Caffeine Research.

The research included 648 participants (47.5 per cent female) enrolled in introductory-level courses at a large public university. They ranged in age from 18 to 40 but mostly clustered at the lower end of the age spectrum. More than 60 per cent were younger than 21.

According to the study's findings, nearly one in three sexually active students (29.3 per cent) reported using AmEDs during the month prior to the survey.

At their most recent sexual encounter, 45.1 per cent of the participants reported having a casual partner, 24.8 per cent reported being intoxicated and 43.6 per cent reported that they did not use a condom.