(07-01-11) The acute effects of caffeinated versus non-caffeinated alcoholic beverage on driving performance and attention/reaction time.

Howland J, Rohsenow DJ, Arnedt JT, Bliss CA, Hunt SK, Calise TV, Heeren T,
Winter M, Littlefield C, Gottlieb DJ.

Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Department of
Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University, Providence, RI,
USA Sleep and Chronophysiology Laboratory, University of Michigan Medical
School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA.


Marketing that promotes mixing caffeinated Aims 'energy' drinks with
alcoholic beverages (e.g. Red Bull with vodka) targets young drinkers and
conveys the expectation that caffeine will offset the sedating effects of
alcohol and enhance alertness. Such beliefs could result in unwarranted risk
taking (e.g. driving while intoxicated). The aim of this study was to assess
the acute effects of caffeinated versus non-caffeinated alcoholic beverages on
a simulated driving task and attention/reaction time.   We conducted a 2 Design
2 between-groups randomized trial in which ? participants were randomized to
one of four conditions: beer and non-alcoholic beer, with and without caffeine
added. Caffeine was added in the same proportion as found in a commercially
available caffeinated beer mg/12 oz of beer at 4.8% alc. by vol). (69
Participants were Participants 127 non-dependent, heavy episodic, young adult
drinkers (age 21-30) who were college students or recent graduates. The target
breath alcohol level was Driving performance was assessed g%. Measures 0.12
with a driving simulator; sustained attention/reaction with the Psychomotor
Vigilance Task Across the driving and attention/reaction time (PVT). Findings
we found main effects for alcohol, with alcohol significantly impairing driving
and sustained attention/reaction time, with mainly large statistical effects;
however, the addition of caffeine had no main or interaction effects on
The addition of caffeine to alcohol does not appear performance. Conclusion to
enhance driving or sustained attention/reaction time performance relative to
alcohol alone.

Source: Addiction. 2010 Oct 6. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03219.x. [Epub ahead of
print]

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