Arguments For. Energy drinks that contain alcohol are the subject of much debate. According to those who believe that such beverages are dangerous enough to ban, there are many factors that make them more dangerous than other alcoholic or caffeinated drinks. For example, introducing caffeine to alcohol intoxication may mask a person’s perception of their own inebriation, as the caffeine directly counteracts many of the initial effects of alcohol. Furthermore, the combination of alcohol and caffeine sends a bad message about the purpose of drinking, suggesting that alcohol should be used for the simple purpose of getting drunk quickly and acting recklessly. Especially when combined with energy drinks that primarily target a young audience, this is a potentially harmful image.
The effects of these drinks on young people is the argument most often cited in support of bans on alcoholic energy drinks, as young adults are said to be particularly vulnerable to their effects, as well as most easily influenced by the product marketing. In many states, restrictions on buying drinks such as energy drinks with alcohol have been significantly more lenient than corresponding restrictions on buying and consuming hard liquor. This makes it a far simpler task for underage people to acquire the drinks. Finally, those in support of banning energy drinks containing alcohol claim that more data is required before they can be officially declared safe. As there have not been adequate studies yet, the drinks should not be readily available.
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"Are Energy Drinks With Alcohol Dangerous Enough to Ban?".
Arguments Against. Contrary to those who believe that energy drinks with alcohol should be banned, there are many who believe that these arguments have been sensationalized and do not give an accurate representation of the issue. The media consistently places an unfair focus on energy drinks with alcohol at the center of incidents that are caused by a number of other factors. For example, a car accident in which the driver was high on marijuana was blamed in headlines on the presence of the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko.
Likewise, medical issues regarding energy drinks with alcohol are blown out of proportion and over-represented, as serious incidents involving binge-drinking these beverages are reported, while similar incidents caused by ordinary alcohol poisoning are far more common, and far less heard of. These causes fear-mongering around these drinks that does not accurately reflect their danger. Indeed, combining caffeine and alcohol is nothing new—a fact which people often point out in defense of the drinks. Adding liquor to coffee after dinner has been long considered social convention, but because of the difference in target audience and class marketing, this is overlooked. Other, more dangerous products, should therefore be prioritized, especially as this would prevent panic-buying at the mention of a ban.
Critique. I personally agree more with the arguments against a ban on energy drinks with alcohol, although there are strengths and weaknesses on both sides. I find that the most compelling argument against the ban is the call for closer scrutiny on the effects of the energy drinks with alcohol. Although some studies have been carried out, they arguably do not address other contributing factors. For example, though studies have shown that those who drink energy drinks with alcohol are more prone to accident and reckless behavior than those who drink non-caffeinated alcoholic beverages. However, these studies have yet to account for the effects of natural recklessness that may be attributed to the kind of people who choose these drinks, rather than to the drinks themselves. Whilst more data may be required before the drinks are declared officially safe, they should not be banned on the basis of something that has yet to be fully or properly proven. The magnification of this issue in the press has contributed to mass hysteria on the subject, and has greatly affected the energy drink industry—again, something which should not occur without proper evidence that the drinks are dangerous, in and of themselves.
Furthermore, I believe that the arguments for a ban are maintaining a double standard, as the ban is not proposed against combining caffeine and alcohol, but against this one specific type of drink. If young adults are entrusted with the legal right to consume alcohol, there is no reason that there should be discrepancy between the laws on energy drinks with alcohol, and other caffeinated drinks with alcohol, as this shows a discrimination against a specific type of marketing, towards a specific audience, rather than a genuine issue with the potential dangers of the drinks themselves. If the restrictions are proposed due to an issue with their marketing towards a young audience, then the age restrictions on drinking should be addressed, rather than focusing on the medical implications of all caffeinated alcoholic beverages.
One issue that remains unanswered by both sides of the argument is whether or not this should be the case. As the arguments for the ban focus largely on the target audience of the drink, it seems strange that binge drinking and reckless behavior is not being attributed to underage and young adult drinking in general, as the consumption of energy drinks with alcohol seems to highlight this as an issue itself. Likewise, the arguments against the ban leave unanswered whether other alcoholic, caffeinated beverages should be considered for a ban, for similar reasons. Both sides of the argument therefore fail to address their own points of debate in various ways.
