Huge back-to-class campaign: Éduc’alcool warns students about the danger of mixing alcohol and energy drinks
Such mixes are all the rage in bars, in clubs and at private parties. “But people should beware of the danger: energy drinks mask the effects of alcohol and can lead to risky behaviour.”
The campaign poster bearing the slogan “Don’t put too much energy into it” illustrates explicitly what happens when you mix alcohol and energy drinks. It has been widely distributed to Cégeps and universities across Québec along with thousands of copies of the brochure Alcohol and Energy Drinks: Don’t get your kicks from this mix!, which explains in simple, straightforward terms exactly what the risks are and how to play it safe.
Until now, there hasn’t been the slightest bit of serious, credible information for the youth market addressing the issue of alcohol and energy drinks. Our campaign and the associated materials are filling an important gap and giving students some essential information about an increasingly popular practice.
Completely opposite effects
Everyone knows that young people seek the stimulant effect of energy drinks to help them stay awake for all-night parties that are usually liberally laced with alcohol. The danger in mixing energy drinks and alcohol lies in the opposite effects of the two substances. Caffeine acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system, while alcohol is a depressant. Energy drinks thus mask the effects of alcohol, leading people to drink more in order to feel the alcohol buzz. Needless to say, that increases the danger of excessive alcohol consumption and all the risks that entails.
Young people who have had too much alcohol on top of energy drinks may feel able to drive, despite an elevated blood-alcohol level. They may hurt themselves but be unable to assess how seriously they are injured. Or they may engage in sexual activity they would not otherwise consent to.
The overriding message of this campaign about alcohol and energy drinks is that you have to be very careful, and, in any case, whenever alcohol is involved, moderation is always in good taste.
Éduc’alcool
