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Why Alcohol and Caffeine Don’t Mix

An image with glasses of alcohol and caffeine next to each otherThere’s a grave misconception that coffee is a cure-all. Although it has some health benefits, there are definitely some ideas about coffee that have been proven false. One of these ideas is the misconception people have that drinking alcohol and caffeine is a good way to stay alert or sober up. Not only is this idea false, but it could even get you killed. Although coffee may indeed perk you up, mixed with alcohol, it mostly just masks the danger signals your body is trying to send you to keep you alive.

Alcohol and Caffeine Make Things Worse

The interaction between these two has been labeled “the perfect storm” by health care educators. The major concern lies in the fact that many seek out coffee and caffeine in an effort to feel more alert as they drink alcohol. Some drink caffeine after alcohol, falsely thinking they will “sober up.” But though they may feel less tired, they are still inebriated by the alcohol’s effects.

Drinking alcohol and caffeine at the same time creates similar problems, making you less aware of how much you have been drinking. This lets you drink more, and become more inebriated than you otherwise would have.

Caffeine is considered a stimulant. It interferes with the chemical known as adenosine that builds up in the brain and signals the body to fall asleep, making you feel less tired. In contrast, although alcohol may have a stimulating effect in the beginning stages of drinking, it also has components that make you feel tired when blood alcohol levels peak and fall. And at all points during this wave, impairment is still an issue, regardless of how alert a person may feel from drinking a stimulant such as coffee. The body is still metabolizing the alcohol at the same rate, with or without caffeine, and reaction times are still slow.

Alcohol and caffeine are a dangerous combination and mixing the two is cautioned against by the US Dietary Guidelines. The belief that caffeine helps has caused impaired individuals to think that they have sobered up enough to drive. They inaccurately believe that coffee has provided them with energy levels to feel awake and alert. But if a car suddenly stops in front of them, they will not have the quick reaction times needed. In a study conducted on 130 adult drinkers, the impaired drivers still had more crashes during a simulation driving test. The effects of drinking a caffeinated beer did not improve anyone's ability to drive.

The Research Says NO!

Research has also shown that drinking alcohol and caffeine together makes people drink more. When a person feels less sedated due to caffeine, they are inclined to drink more alcohol. The natural signal that indicates to people they’ve had enough is suppressed. It has been masked and hidden by the stimulating effects of caffeine. In addition, drinking alcohol and caffeine together also permits a person to stay awake longer, therefore encouraging longer drinking times.

As the popularity of alcohol and caffeine mixing rose in the 80s with the introduction of energy drinks such as Red Bull, so too did the frequency of emergency-room visits by those who chose to drink that way. The number of emergency visits that were energy-drink related rose from roughly 10,000 in 2007 to 20,000 in 2011. Roughly 2,600 of the visits in 2011 were alcohol and caffeine-related due to alcoholic energy drinks.

On a positive note, research from the examination of injuries associated with alcohol and caffeine has made great strides in a short amount of time. Due to the negative public health implications of the combination of the two, the FDA banned the sale of caffeinated malt beverages or alcoholic energy drinks (AED) as of 2010.

Are There Other Strategies for Sobering Up?

An image of a hungover man with empty bottles around him who likely mixed alcohol and caffeineIf you are looking for a quick way to sober up, you should know - there are none. Experts advise that the only way to remove the sluggish symptoms associated with overconsumption of alcohol is time. Although the specific amount of time varies per person, it is safe to say that on average, a person will metabolize an average of one drink per hour. If you’ve had four drinks, it will take you four hours to metabolize the alcohol and get it out of our system. But the best way? Avoid intoxication to begin with. Drinking with food in your stomach and alternating with water can reduce the spike of alcohol in the bloodstream and help you feel less intoxicated.

The Body’s Natural Detoxification System

The body does have a natural detoxification circuit that helps cleanse it of unwanted substances such as alcohol. But when foreign or synthetic compounds are introduced in excess, the body sometimes not strong enough to get the job done on its own, especially if it is already weak from an illness. Toxins can accumulate, and some never leave the body.

The body is an interconnected system of smaller intricate systems that all work together to create the perfectly functioning human machine. And when it is overexposed to triggers that set the detoxification circuit into overdrive, such as too much alcohol, it can trigger such things as liver congestion and immune hyperactivation.

The detoxification circuit is one of six circuits of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response System, a system that is tied to every organ and cell in your body. This is why alcohol on its own can cause intoxication and even death - by shutting down parts of the brain necessary for basic life support. Drinking it affects the entire body.

AFS, Alcohol, and Caffeine

Although there are some studies showing the benefits of drinking a small amount of alcohol, such as a small daily glass of red wine, there is a long list of research against it. It can cause serious damage to the body and accelerate any diseases that a person might have. If you suffer from a condition such as Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), an ailment that results from overexposure to chronic stress, drinking alcohol could put your body in grave danger.

Some adrenal fatigue sufferers are under the impression that alcohol is a relaxant and that it is ok to drink it to offset their stress. Alcohol is never a good way to relax, and especially not if you have any preexisting conditions. With AFS, over time the body begins to shut down, and if left unmanaged, it could result in death. If alcohol is introduced to a body that is overly stressed and dysfunctional, the body's detoxification circuit could very well shut down, and cause the rest of the NEM Stress Response System to do the same. Alcohol causes the adrenal glands to become depressed and produce lower cortisol levels, causing the immune system to drop, increasing inflammation, and disrupting sleep. Blood sugars rise and cause the pancreas to overproduce insulin.

Caffeine alone can have a similar effect on a body suffering from AFS. If the adrenal glands are already fatigued and over-stressed, caffeine can make them work harder to pump cortisol, eventually burning them out. Over time, as the adrenals weaken, caffeine has less of an effect on people with adrenal fatigue, and they will need more of it to feel the effects they are looking for. Caffeine and other stimulants can cause problems all their own.

What Can You Do About It?

Know your body, and become conscious of what you eat or drink. Research your diet, and speak to health care practitioners who specialize in nutrition and chronic illnesses. Never follow what you may hear or read unless it is backed up by research or offered by a trusted source as many companies offer false advertisements that could cause you harm.

You don’t necessarily have to give up alcohol and caffeine entirely. In fact, if you are an advanced AFS sufferer, abrupt removal of alcohol is not recommended if your body is already used to it. Adrenal crashes can be triggered in such cases. The weaker the body, the greater the risk. Close supervision by a physician experienced with AFS is needed to avoid negative consequences, including rebound or withdrawal symptoms.

Scientific research has consistently shown that moderate coffee consumption has health benefits, such as providing high levels of antioxidants and nutrients, and alcohol consumption in moderation has been linked to a few including:

An image of someone signaling no to alcohol and caffeine with a raised hand to the glass

  • Reducing risks of heart disease
  • Possibly reducing your risk of ischemic stroke
  • Possibly reducing your risk of diabetes

However, no one should begin to drink alcohol on the basis of the aforementioned health benefits, as the possible benefits do not outweigh the risks. If you are a light drinker and very healthy, you can most likely continue to drink responsibly.

Respect your body and never abuse alcohol and caffeine. Along with its benefits, caffeine is addictive, classified as a drug, and has side effects that deserve attention. What was once used by our ancestors to fight off saber tooth tigers, is now being abused to reach work deadlines and get through our normal everyday lives. It is being used as a crutch when it shouldn’t be.

Alcohol and caffeine should not be mixed. They can cause a tremendous amount of damage individually, and when combined, they can mask your blood alcohol level just enough to potentially kill you or someone else. Know your body and act responsibly.

© Copyright 2019 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.

Dr. Lam’s Key Question

Alcohol and caffeine should only be consumed by healthy individuals with no prior medical conditions. Although coffee has a tremendous amount of health benefits, it is an addictive stimulant and should be treated as such. Alcohol has very, very few benefits, with more negative than good.

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