Caffeinated Alcohol Beverages pose special risks

Young people who consume caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) experience more adverse effects than those who consume alcohol alone. One feature is that CAB’s tend to encourage increased consumption of alcohol, but CAB drinkers experience higher levels of harm even when the amount of alcohol consumed is held constant.

These are among the main findings of a new report from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia (CARBC). The report examines the trends and risks of alcohol and caffeine consumption in Canada, and provides targeted recommendations for policy makers, public health organizations, healthcare providers and researchers.

The full report can be found at:
http://www.ccsa.ca/2012 CCSA Documents/CCSA-Caffeinated- Alcoholic-Beverages-in-Canada- 2012-en.pdf Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages in Canada: Prevalence of Use, Risks and Recommended Policy Responses.

There is also an accompanying policy brief on alcohol and caffeine: http://www.ccsa.ca/2012 CCSA Documents/CCSA-Alcoholand- Caffeine-Policy-Brief-2012-en. pdf

CCSA and CARBC have also developed alcohol and caffeine fact sheets for parents and youth, both obtainable from CCSA:

Youth – Alcohol and Caffeine: a Bad Buzz Parents – Alcohol and Caffeine: a Bad Buzz