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Red Bull and Vodka Do Mix, Say Scientists

MONDAY MARCH 27 2006 2:32 PM

Submitted by mat8drb. Edited By WilWheaton.

While Red Bull continues to get their fingers in every single sport ever (including the controversial takeover of the New York Metrostars), it is refreshing to be reminded that they are an energy drinks company. And one that does mix very well with alcohol, a proper study (not just a night out with mates) has shown.

A Sao Paulo university team plied 26 male volunteers* with booze, Red Bull or a mixture of both, and demonstrated what deranged clubbers already knew: mixing energy drinks with alcohol provokes "an increased sensation of pleasure and a reduction in sleepiness". Or, as team leader professor Maria Lucia Souza-Formigoni told the BBC: "The person is drunk but does not feel as drunk as he really is."

Souza-Formigoni explained: "In Brazil, as in other countries, people believe that Red Bull and other energy drinks avoid the sleepiness caused by alcoholic beverages and increase their capacity to dance all night." Her subjects fuelled with the Red Bull and alcohol mix did indeed report "less perception of headache, weakness, dry mouth and impairment of motor coordination".

And the danger? Thinking you're less legless than you really are and then taking the car for a spin. Souza-Formigoni's fellow researcher professor Roseli Boergnen de Lacerda, of the Federal University of Parana, duly warned: "The implications of these findings are that this association of alcohol and energy drinks is harmful rather than beneficial as believed by consumers."

Red Bull originates from an original Thai drink (Krating Daeng) that was used to keep the rickshaw drivers going throughout the day: with some medicinal purposes. It is prohibited for sale as a soft drink in France, Denmark and Norway. The Candadian version carries a warning label. The drinks' success is down to the feel that Dietrich Mateschitz has created by guessing that "some clubbers wanted to dance all night without taking illegal drugs, such as ecstasy, and skiers and snow-boarders would enjoy enhanced performance, while hot bars would become even hotter when drinkers woke up to Red Bull as a vodka mixer"

The company generally tends to distance themselves from alcohol: it was widely expected that one of their Formula One teams would use a Vodka sponsorship but was denied by Red Bull prior to their 2005 debut season and the new "b" team hasn't picked up any alcohol sponsorship either. However, Red Bull America have sued when customers being served cocktails were given an alternative but similar energy drink: like asking for Coke and getting Pepsi. In this case, they promote responsible drinking:

A Red Bull spokeswoman declared: "Red Bull strongly advocates the responsible use of alcohol at all times. The position of Red Bull, in line with responsible adults and driving organisations worldwide, is that it is absolutely wrong to drink alcohol and drive at any time, regardless of whether alcohol has been mixed or not."

And the case for Red Bull? The spokeswoman added: "Driving organisations, including the RAC, have endorsed the sole consumption of Red Bull or other caffeine-based drinks whilst driving to improve concentration and reaction time, and therefore safety."

Simple then: Red Bull and car good: Red Bull and alcohol and car bad. I'm pretty sure that all those double vodkas and Red Bulls I had for a pound in Leeds in my student days probably weren't Red Bull either. Hell, at that price, they probably weren't even vodka.

35 Comments

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Kleio

Winona, MN

January 2006

MAR 27, 2006 02:41 PM

And it's not just vodka - apparently Red Bull is also great with Jagermeister! Frankly, if I need to party all night, I'll stick with my Mountain Dew. That's a hyper you can trust and it doesn't taste like awful wrapped in disgusting.

[Edited on Mar 27, 2006 4:42PM]

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN

July 2003

MAR 27, 2006 02:55 PM

ClioLune said:
And it's not just vodka - apparently Red Bull is also great with Jagermeister! Frankly, if I need to party all night, I'll stick with my Mountain Dew. That's a hyper you can trust and it doesn't taste like awful wrapped in disgusting.

[Edited on Mar 27, 2006 4:42PM]

And it's not nearly 2 bucks for a 8 oz can.

n8tvegrl

Bend, OR

February 2004

MAR 27, 2006 02:56 PM

I tried one of those Jagerbombs and they taste like Robitussin.

Sexdwarf

Hermosa Beach, CA

February 2003

MAR 27, 2006 03:00 PM

I only wish Red Bull + Vodka gave me the ability to go all night. Its all about Vodka + ThermoSpeed.

Bo0m

United Kingdom

February 2006

MAR 27, 2006 03:01 PM

Not seen mountain dew for a few years over here in Scotland. Dont know if it is even sold over here any more. Def makes you hyper though and if I remember correctly it makes your tounge a really attractive green also

Anyone tried that new Irn-Bru energy drink with alcohol. You guys in the states heard of Irn-Bru?

ThisIsWhoWeAre

Oakland, CA

July 2004

MAR 27, 2006 03:01 PM

Vodka and Red Bull... After 7, the only time I've ever thrown up while drinking. Now the sight or mention of that concoction makes me gag.

Fun while it lasted though...

Cecelia

Minneapolis, MN

June 2005

MAR 27, 2006 03:13 PM

I just had my first glass of Red Bull w/ Vodka last night. GOOD SHIT.

sirloins

Austin, TX

October 2005

MAR 27, 2006 03:23 PM

Here in Germany, last call is 5am. Those vodka redbull combos are the drink of choice for just about every muthafuckin' one.

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

MAR 27, 2006 03:31 PM

Double vodka and Red Bull...5.50 at shows here...nothing beats getting fucked up to awesome music

steve626

Tarentum, PA

February 2005

MAR 27, 2006 04:13 PM

I wonder if you can ferment the sugar in a redbull...

Wheezy_E

Boulder City, NV

April 2004

MAR 27, 2006 04:20 PM

It's like a speedball for jocks!

Wheezy_E

Boulder City, NV

April 2004

MAR 27, 2006 04:21 PM

the hippie speedball is esspresso and a bongload of course.

jrave

Italy

January 2004

MAR 27, 2006 05:29 PM

i'll just stick to shots. nothing to carry around and it's quick. kinda like my love life, but different...

Yuriel

I'm lost

January 2004

MAR 27, 2006 05:35 PM

to hell with red bull.
give me rockstar or monster
or von dutch.

actually rockstar IS good

... milk tea actually repairs liver damage.

go figure.
..o..O..o..

ortho7117

Charlotte, NC

April 2004

MAR 27, 2006 05:36 PM

I don't use drugs (including alcohol of course) at all now, but when I did, I found those legal energy-boosting substances to be not only grossy inferior to illicit stimulants, but frequently harder on my body. It always seemed that so much had to be taken (of caffeine, etc.) that the nasty side effects became really prominent.

My least favorite was ephedrine (like what's in that Thermospeed stuff) - just makes you all jittery, pissed off, uptight, without any euphoria. Mix it with alcohol and you're doubly dehydrated afterwards.

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