Caffeinated energy drinks

"New research indicates that individuals who have a high frequency of energy drink consumption (52 or more times within a year) were at a statistically significant higher risk for alcohol dependence and episodes of heavy drinking."

It's interesting to look at the new bans on alcoholic energy drinks that are happening all over the U.S. Apparently caffeine masks the effects of alcohol poisoning and the general effects of alcohol. That's why you drink coffee to "sober up." It doesn't actually sober you up, but the caffeine masks how the alcohol makes you feel. A lot of college kids have been overdosing on alcohol by drinking these drinks. I suppose they just don't feel the same high, and then want more to make them feel more drunk.

My cousin up north just posted that he bought 2 cases of this stuff in anticipation of the ban. He's nuts to put that on Facebook, cause he's looking for a job, and his mom is his friend, but it makes me think this problem is more widespread. He's not even in college anymore. He's still really young, and I hope he'll just grow out of it. Alcoholism runs in that side of the family, too, and he's already got the anxiety disorder to go with it.