None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
It has been argued that alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) consumption results in a misperception of intoxication, whereby participants recorded lower subjective ratings on specific indices of intoxication following AmED consumption relative to alcohol only consumption, despite simliar alcohol-induced deficits on objective performance outcomes. However, previous studies have yielded equivocal findings in regards to the subjective and objective physiological, cognitive performance, and motor performance outcomes of AmED consumption relative to alcohol only consumption, and there has been relatively no exploration of the dose-dependent effects of these substances on such indices. Furthermore, while this misperception of intoxication has been argued to result in increased risk-taking, there has been no objective measurement of risk-taking post-AmED consumption. Consequently, the aim of the current study will be to establish the dose-dependent impact of ED and alcohol ingested independently and in combination on (i) objective measures of cognitive and motor performance, physiology (e.g., heart rate), and behavioural risk-taking, and (ii) subjective measures of intoxication.
Interventions
The study will utilise a crossover placebo-controlled, single-blind mixed design.
The two investigational products under examination will include 0.50g/kg and 0.65g/kg alcohol (vodka; 37.5% alcohol by volume Smirnoff Red Label No. 21) and 250ml, 500ml, and 750ml Red Bull (Registered Trademark) Energy Drink (Red Bull GmBH, Austria). The alcohol doses were selected to achieve an average peak blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% and 0.08% and the energy drink dose is equivalent to one, two, and t
The study will utilise a crossover placebo-controlled, single-blind mixed design. The two investigational products under examination will include 0.50g/kg and 0.65g/kg alcohol (vodka; 37.5% alcohol by volume Smirnoff Red Label No. 21) and 250ml, 500ml, and 750ml Red Bull (Registered Trademark) Energy Drink (Red Bull GmBH, Austria). The alcohol doses were selected to achieve an average peak blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% and 0.08% and the energy drink dose is equivalent to one, two, and three standard energy drinks servings (i.e., 250ml containing 21g sucrose, 5g glucose, 1g taurine, 80mg caffeine, 60mg glucuronolactone, 50mg inositol, and B vitamins). The alcohol dose will be decreased to 85% for females due to their decreased body water to fat ratio. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three alcohol treatment conditions (placebo, 0.50g/kg, or 0.65g/kg) counterbalanced for sex. They will then attend four experimental sessions in which they will receive their allocated alcohol dose with a different energy drink dose (placebo, 250ml, 500ml, and 750ml Red Bull Energy Drink), administered in counterbalanced order. Administration of placebo and active alcohol and energy drink treatment conditions will be identical. The alcohol and energy drink portions will be poured together to form a mixed beverage, which will then be split into four portions and served in opaque lidded cups with a straw. Participants will have four successive five minutes blocks to orally consume each portion at their own pace, resulting in a total consumption time of 20 minutes. Experimental sessions will be conducted at the same time of day for each participant between the hours of 0900 and 1900, with a minimum of two days and a maximum of 10 days separating sessions to ensure washout.
Sponsors
School of Psychology, University of Tasmania
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Male or female Aged 18 to 35 English as a first language Completed Year 12 or equivalent Current full driver licence Regular energy drink consumer (minimum consumption of one energy drink and maximum consumption of one energy drink per day on average in the preceding month) Regular caffeine consumer (minimum consumption of five and maximum consumption of 28 caffeinated products in the preceding week) Regular alcohol consumer (minimum consumption of two standard alcoholic beverages in the preceding fortnight) Normal or corrected-to-normal vision Normal sleep patterns Normal Body Mass Index (BMI; between 18.50 and 29.99) Provided informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Regular tobacco smoker (typical daily use of one or more cigarettes) Recent illicit drug use (preceding two weeks) Current regular medicinal or recreational prescription medication use (excluding the contraceptive pill) Participation in a drug study in the preceding three months Currently pregnant or breastfeeding History of any significant neurological condition Current diagnosis of any significant physical condition Current diagnosis of a significant psychiatric disorder or score of 30 or higher on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10; Kessler et al., 2002) Current diagnosis of a significant intellectual disability or age normed quotient lower than 71 on the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR; Wechsler, 2001) History of alcohol or drug abuse or dependence disorder or use of alcohol at hazardous or harmful levels, evident via a score of 16 or higher on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; Barbor et al., 2001; Saunders, Aasland, Babor, de la Fuente, & Grant, 1993)
Outcome results
None listed