But have you ever wondered what happens in your body when you drink caffeine and alcohol together? Is this drink (or other liquor-caffeine combos) safe to enjoy—or should we actually avoid mixing them altogether? To find out exactly how this type of cocktail affects your health, we tapped Seema Bonney, MD, functional medicine doctor and founder of the Anti-Aging and Longevity Center of Philadelphia, to break it all down.
What happens in your body when you mix alcohol with caffeine?
Alcohol, on the other hand, “causes adenosine to accumulate, making you feel drowsy,” she continues. When both are mixed and ingested, caffeine can mask the depressant effects of alcohol. “This makes drinkers feel more alert and gives the feeling that they can handle more alcohol, creating increased impairment and more risk for harm,” she says. But this doesn’t mean that caffeine sobers you up. If you’ve ever turned on your TV, you’ve probably seen characters in movies and shows suggest a strong cup of coffee for someone who’s had too much to drink. “Caffeine has no effect on the metabolism of alcohol by the liver, and thus it does not reduce blood alcohol concentrations or reduce impairment,” she says. (The only way to sober up is time.) If you’re having trouble staying awake during a night out and want to try some sort of alcohol and caffeine drink, Dr. Bonney says to consider the amount of caffeine in the beverage. “The higher the caffeine content, the greater the stimulant effect and masking of alcohol effects,” she says. Dr. Bonney points out that a standard cup of coffee has about 95 to 165 milligrams of caffeine in each cup, whereas an energy drink typically contains anywhere from 40 to 350 milligrams of caffeine and typically includes added sugars, which is an additional stimulant. Of course, how your body handles the mix of caffeine and alcohol depends on a variety of factors, including personal health history, how often you drink them, and more, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for everyone.
