Jäger bombs, Sparks or Red Bull and vodka: whether an appetizing taste or a way to keep kids partying late into the morning, alcoholic energy drinks are booming among college campuses.

But experts across the country, like Elon’s Medical Director Jim Hawkins, are saying that drowning too many of these upping-downers could be very harmful, and even influence hangover intensity.

According to the National Institute of Health, levels of caffeine can boost heart rate and blood pressure, causing palpitations, and adding alcohol to the equation only increases the probability of heart rhythm problems.

Hawkins stressed responsibility with these beverages.

“They can increase the rate of absorbtion of alcohol into the system, in larger quantities and faster, especially since you are combining a stimulant and depressant at the same time,” he said. “In theory, that’s what killed Elvis.”

According to the Alcohol Problem and Solutions Web site, energy drinks contain stimulants such as taurine and ginseng, which are uppers, while alcohol is a depressant.

“By mixing the two you’re sending mixed messages to your nervous system which can cause cardiac related problems,” the Alcohol Problem and Solutions web site said. “Alcohol makes people dehydrated, which is one of the reasons why people have hangovers, and the caffeine in the energy drinks is a diuretic which also causes people to lose water. So it makes the effects of dehydration worse.”

Josh Ezrine, manager of West End Bar and Grill, said while the alcoholic energy drink Sparks isn’t the most popular beverage at the bar, they do go through several cases of the product on the weekend.

“Because kids can’t get liquor they may get those instead because they taste similar,” Ezrine said.

To ensure safety, Hawkins urges topping consumption off at one a night and alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to help stay hydrated and decrease the effects of alcohol.

Special Features Editor: Andie Diemer - 09/05/07