Caffeinated Drinks and Alcohol: What’s the Risk?

You may have heard about the controversy caused by caffeinated drinks with alcohol in them. However, mixing alcohol and caffeine still remains popular. Whether it’s through energy drinks, coffee, or placing caffeine in special beer brews, these drinks still come with some potential risks…

Caffeinated Drinks and Alcohol: A Dangerous Mix?

Alcohol and caffeine

It’s important to know why alcohol and caffeine can be a dangerous mix. That way, you’ll have a better understanding as to why these caffeinated drinks are both so appealing and risky. It all comes down to how the two react with one another when they’re inside your body.

Alcohol is a depressant. When consumed, it releases chemicals in your body which slow you down and make you feel tired. In comparison, caffeine is a stimulant. That’s why people will drink caffeinated things when they need an energy boost. However, when combined, they effectively “block” out each other in your body.

Why it’s dangerous

At first glance, you might think that caffeinated drinks don’t sound too bad. After all, if they cancel each other out, then doesn’t that mean you can drink and be more alert than usual? While on the surface this appears to be the case, in reality this is exactly why you don’twant to mix the two. 

Due to how caffeine and alcohol counter each other, it’s true you may feel more awake while drinking. However, this can fool you into thinking you aren’t as intoxicated as you really are. As a result, it’s not uncommon for people who mix alcohol and caffeine to binge drink, going well over their normal limits without even realizing it.

What you can do

The easiest way to avoid mixing caffeine and alcohol is to just avoid caffeinated drinks. Don’t order any drinks which you know will have caffeine in them. Plus, avoid consuming any caffeine before you drink. Even if you don’t mix them, the caffeine that’s already in your system could cause you problems.

Still, if you like using things such as sodas or coffee as mixers, you still have some options. Getting decaf choices will let you still make the drinks you like, while avoiding the dangerous mix that usually comes with them. If you do plan on having a drink with caffeine in it, make sure to keep it in moderation and be aware of the dangers. 

Electric Scooter Safety

In the past few years, we have seen the rise of electric scooters on our city sidewalks. These scooters are a great way to travel short distances just a little bit quicker and no one can deny the nostalgia of it all. However, most of us have at least one friend who has taken a tumble during their ride. From broken bones, to busted lips, and all the scrapes in between— there is no denying that scooter safety is an important practice.

Electric Scooters: Safe Riding

Consider a helmet

Let’s face it: most of us end up hopping on a scooter impulsively. You’re walking to a restaurant, you pass by a scooter, and decide to take it for a ride. I am almost certain that you don’t carry a helmet with you in your purse. However, due to the rise in electric scooter injuries, it might be best to avoid this set of wheels unless you have safety gear to back it up. Sure, a scooter can be fun but making it to the bar without breaking an arm is much more fun.

Don’t overload the scooter

These electric scooters are really only meant to carry one person at a time. However, for as many scooter injuries as we’ve heard about, we’ve seen twice as many scooters with two people on them. Its fun, cute, and might make for a perfect Instagram photo. But, these scooters are ultimately only designed to fit one rider at a time. When you add that extra body to the mix, you increase your chances of losing your balance, not being able to stop, and facing injury.

Don’t Drink and Ride

Electric scooter safety is our main concern and while the previous advice is absolutely important to remember, so is this other little bit of advice… Don’t drink and ride. When you’re walking from Hoppin’ to All American, you’ll likely stumble across a scooter on the way. No matter how many drinks you’ve had this evening, you decide to jump on. After all, it’s not like driving… right?

You might be surprised to find out that DUI’s come in all shapes and sizes. Furthermore, you can get in just as much trouble for riding drunk as you can for driving drunk. If it has a motor, you are are operating a motor vehicle under the influence.

DUI aside… drunk scooter riding is just not safe

Putting potential legal issues aside, operating any piece of machinery while you’re under the influence of alcohol can be dangerous. Your depth perception and reflexes are less than normal. For these reasons, among many others, riding under the influence can be dangerous.

Beer Styles: Find Your Fit

There are plenty of different options when it comes to beer styles and brewing. From light to dark and everything in between. Plenty of people don’t consider themselves beer lovers, or even beer drinkers. However, the truth is, if you really invest in trying different brews— you might just find a new favorite beverage. Take it from a reformed non-beer drinker… there is something out there for most. So, let’s take a tour of beer styles, your options, and good starting places for those few in your group which steer you away from the breweries every weekend. 

Beer Styles: Reforming Non-Beer Drinkers Worldwide 

Starting Light… 

Lagers and Pilsners 

When it comes to the ‘most manageable’ and easy drinking brews, most people turn to a lager or pilsner. Pilsners in particular are the kinds of beers you probably started on a didn’t realize it. For example, Bud Light is still the leading brand when it comes to beer sales, honing in on 15.4% of all 2017 beer sales across the market. That’s quite a lot when you consider just how many beer styles there are out there. In short, pilsners are the go-to for many. Some light lagers are Heineken, Budweiser, and Sapporo. Popular pilsners are Bud Light, Coors Light, and Victory Prima Pils if you wanna go a little more ‘craft’. 

Ales 

Ales are some of the most popular beer styles because they’re so versatile. From India pale ales, brown ales, pale ales, winter ales, summer ales, blonde ales, amber ales… There are so many different options when it comes to picking an ale. Furthermore, they really do go with any type of food; any type of weather. If you want a light, easy drinking ale for summer— Anchor Brewing blood orange blonde has been getting a lot of notoriety and 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon wheat ale has been a summer favorite for years now. 

IPA’s 

IPA’s seem to babe the dividing factor for many beer lovers and haters alike. No matter which side of the spectrum you fall on, you likely have your opinions about IPA’s. Some people revere them as ‘hipster beers that taste like dish soap’ and others go into bars and restaurants actively searching for the ‘hoppiest brew ya got on tap’. Hops have a bitter taste, and people tend to either love or hate them without there being an in between. For those who don’t love the idea of an IPA, but want to give them a try, check out Sweetwater IPA, Sierra Nevada tropical IPA, or anything really that offers a fruit of some sort in the name. If you’re looking for a hop explosion, check out Bell’s Two-Hearted, Stone Enjoy By IPA. 

For the Non-Believer 

I’ll admit, at one point I found myself well within this category. Quite honestly, the best starting point for me was in sour beers and Gose’s. These types of beer are brewed similar to a kombucha and tout some of the same cultures and bacterias. Very similar to IPA’s, many people fall on one side of the spectrum or the other. You either love them or hate them. But either way, you have an opinion. Check out Sam Adam’s raspberry lemon gose, westbrook rose (they have multiple variations to choose from), and Anderson Valley brine melon gose. 

In short, there are so many types of beer out there in the world. Why avoid them altogether? 

Whether you’re a beer lover or hater, I challenge you to try something new this weekend (in a safe space and with a designated driver). You never know, you might just find that one of these beer styles will become your go-to beverage. Because let’s face it… sometimes a gin and tonic doesn’t really hit the spot when enjoyed with your burger.