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Caffeinated alcoholic beverages and alcohol mixed with energy drinks have become popular with youth, likely because of the belief that caffeine counteracts the sedating effects of alcohol. In a randomized study conducted in a carefully controlled laboratory setting, 127 young adult, heavy episodic drinkers (age range, 21–30; 53% men; 83% students) consumed either alcohol-containing beer or nonalcoholic beer, to which caffeine or placebo was added. After consuming enough beer to reach a breath alcohol concentration of 0.12%, participants performed a 30-minute simulated driving task and a test of sustained attention and reaction time.
Participants who consumed alcohol-containing beer had significantly slower reaction times, greater speed varia…