TGIF TIPS – 4 Reasons Why You Must Stop Mixing Alcohol And Energy Drinks To Make Cocktails
Another Friday is upon us, and I cannot help but wonder, am I the only person who feels that this week has flown by so swiftly?
Anyway, it is always good to be alive, well, and also be in good enough shape to hit the cool spots with friends and unwind again after a long week of work.
There’s a trend that I’ve been observing for a few years now, and I think that it is something that we ought to address. Many young people these days are quite fond of making cocktails with a mixture of energy drinks and alcoholic spirits.
Be it brandy, whiskey, cognac, or even vodka; many young people are quick to pop a can of their preferred energy drink and create mini cocktail blends for their drinking pleasure.
This growing trend is not only physically damaging, but it also has psychological and some other adverse effects too.
Research shows that each one of them, alcohol and energy drinks, has its adverse effects on the body. So, what do you think will happen when you now combine and ingest them regularly?
Some of the side effects you expose yourself to when you consume such cocktails include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Abnormal heart rhythms that can be very dangerous to your health
(2) Insomnia and other sleeping disorders
(3) Heightened feelings of sanitation and tension
(4) Abnormal heart palpitations
Scientists have also revealed that when alcohol’s depressant effect and the stimulants found in energy drinks are combined, people can suffer from “wide-awake intoxicated.”
This is even more dangerous because it puts you in a state where you are wide awake for a long stretch of hours yet very tipsy or even drunk. It also makes you feel like you’re sober, yet your blood-alcohol levels would be significantly spiked.
Some other effects of this dangerous trend include:
Sexual Insecurity: Drinkers who consume alcohol and energy drinks are twice as likely to be sexually exploited or exploit someone else sexually.
D.U.I Risk: People who mix energy drinks with alcohol are four times more likely than those who only consume alcohol to assume they can drive home. We all know how that would end up now, don’t we?
Excessive High For Adolescents: Further studies have revealed that this blend of alcohol and energy drinks has the same effects on the brain of adolescents as taking cocaine would produce.
My dear Asa and Odogwu Mgbekes, if after all these facts you still feel like going ahead to mix these two when you step put tonight, please at least ensure that you keep note of the following things:
(1) Be Your Brothers’ Keeper: Mixing alcohol and energy drinks makes you lose any form of inhibition and take risks you would usually never take. Keep an eye on each other as you hang out and drink tonight so that none of you get out of hand. Drink responsibly.
(2) Make Sure To Eat: Food slows down the effect of alcohol in the body, especially if you eat while drinking. Try to get starch-rich foods, as these absorb alcohol even faster than any other food. Try to eat spicy food, as it helps to reduce the alcohol level.
(3) Don’t Overdo It: Whatever you do, make sure that you keep track of how many drinks you’ve consumed, know what your body can tolerate and drink responsibly!
Taking these mixtures of alcohol and energy drinks can also cause alcohol poisoning, which will land you in the hospital if care is not taken.
My question now is: Why would you go out to supposedly unwind and relax only to end up in a hospital bed because you abuse these drinks? Is that not a very foolish thing to do?
Please be wise and well-coordinated in all your dealings no matter what or where you find yourself! Till we meet again to share some more tips next Friday…
Ana eji Uche eme the!
Prof. Mgbeke loves ❤️ you all.
By: Dr. Sandra C. Duru
#PROFMGBEKE
