Red Bull + Alcohol = Trouble
Energy drink lethal cocktail if combined with vodka, exercise
Heather Bezaury
Issue date: 4/15/02 Section: Coyote News
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The IUPUI Sagamore (Indiana U. - Purdue U. at Indianapolis)
(U-WIRE) INDIANAPOLIS - Red Bull energy drink is wildly popular among the college-age crowd, but investigators warn that it could be deadly when mixed with alcohol or strenuous exercise.
Since its American debut in 1997, the drink has become a quick pick-me-up for college students. Young people have used it as a cure for mid-afternoon fatigue or a stimulant to keep from feeling drunk after consuming alcohol.
After three seemingly healthy people in Sweden died shortly after drinking Red Bull, officials launched an investigation into the drink's ingredients and effects. Two of the victims died after drinking Red Bull with vodka, and another died after consuming several cans following an exercise session.
While there have been no reports of Red Bull related deaths in the United States, the drink sent an IU-Bloomington student to the emergency room in January. Sophomore Theresa Sparrow, 19, passed out in a sorority house after drinking four shots of vodka and two cans of Red Bull.
Since the Swedish investigation, several countries have issued warnings. A professor from Monash University in Australia warned that mixing energy drinks with alcohol could create abnormal heart rhythms, which aside from being deadly, can cause future heart problems.
The ingredient under scrutiny is the amino acid taurine, which speeds up the body's metabolic process. The high caffeine content also concerns researchers. Due to the amount of caffeine in the drink, Red Bull is banned from general consumption in Norway, Denmark and France. It can only be found in pharmacies.
Despite the precautions taken by European officials, the drink has remained popular in America and is one of the fastest selling drinks in clubs and pubs. Tiki Bob's Cantina on Meridian Street is known for catering to a younger, college-age crowd. The club serves Red Bull as a mixer with vodka and Jagermeister.
"We go through about two or three cases each night on Friday and Saturday nights," said Mike Jones, an employee.
Another popular club in downtown Indianapolis that serves the drink is Gator's in Circle Centre Mall. This is where Jason Hargraves first tried the drink as a mixer with vodka.
"I know I had at least four of the drinks, but I didn't feel drunk," he said. "You can get sloppy drunk on that stuff without feeling sloppy drunk. So you just keep drinking."
Representatives for Red Bull deny that their product has any harmful effects on health, and claim several doctors and scientists have tested the product. The company's Web site lists the complaints about its products in a link named "rumors."
Worldwide sales of the drink reached $1 billion in 2000 and are continuing to rise, according to The Beverage Marketing Corp.
(U-WIRE) INDIANAPOLIS - Red Bull energy drink is wildly popular among the college-age crowd, but investigators warn that it could be deadly when mixed with alcohol or strenuous exercise.
Since its American debut in 1997, the drink has become a quick pick-me-up for college students. Young people have used it as a cure for mid-afternoon fatigue or a stimulant to keep from feeling drunk after consuming alcohol.
After three seemingly healthy people in Sweden died shortly after drinking Red Bull, officials launched an investigation into the drink's ingredients and effects. Two of the victims died after drinking Red Bull with vodka, and another died after consuming several cans following an exercise session.
While there have been no reports of Red Bull related deaths in the United States, the drink sent an IU-Bloomington student to the emergency room in January. Sophomore Theresa Sparrow, 19, passed out in a sorority house after drinking four shots of vodka and two cans of Red Bull.
Since the Swedish investigation, several countries have issued warnings. A professor from Monash University in Australia warned that mixing energy drinks with alcohol could create abnormal heart rhythms, which aside from being deadly, can cause future heart problems.
The ingredient under scrutiny is the amino acid taurine, which speeds up the body's metabolic process. The high caffeine content also concerns researchers. Due to the amount of caffeine in the drink, Red Bull is banned from general consumption in Norway, Denmark and France. It can only be found in pharmacies.
Despite the precautions taken by European officials, the drink has remained popular in America and is one of the fastest selling drinks in clubs and pubs. Tiki Bob's Cantina on Meridian Street is known for catering to a younger, college-age crowd. The club serves Red Bull as a mixer with vodka and Jagermeister.
"We go through about two or three cases each night on Friday and Saturday nights," said Mike Jones, an employee.
Another popular club in downtown Indianapolis that serves the drink is Gator's in Circle Centre Mall. This is where Jason Hargraves first tried the drink as a mixer with vodka.
"I know I had at least four of the drinks, but I didn't feel drunk," he said. "You can get sloppy drunk on that stuff without feeling sloppy drunk. So you just keep drinking."
Representatives for Red Bull deny that their product has any harmful effects on health, and claim several doctors and scientists have tested the product. The company's Web site lists the complaints about its products in a link named "rumors."
Worldwide sales of the drink reached $1 billion in 2000 and are continuing to rise, according to The Beverage Marketing Corp.