Alcoholic Energy Drinks, What You As a Server Should Know

 Phusion Projects wants you to know that any alcoholic beverage has the potential to have dangerous effects when not consumed responsibility and encourages you to enjoy our products responsibly. 

Alcohol energy drinks have been growing in popularity among patrons due to their appeal and taste. They combine high caffeine and alcohol concentrations. With the exception of Four Loko (fourloko.com), a well-known alcoholic energy drink, that does not include caffeine, taurine, or guarana in any of their products.  

With the rise of alcoholic energy drinks, it is a bartender’s duty to be educated on the federal and state laws and potential dangers of serving alcoholic energy drinks. Any alcoholic beverage can be abused if not consumed responsibly, but alcoholic energy drinks pose their own risks that far outweigh those of regular bar beverages. They can be very addictive due to the combination of alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. There is added danger when combining caffeine, a stimulant, and alcohol, a depressant, as they counteract each other and can mask typical warning signs associated with caffeine overdose or alcohol
poisoning.  

Those drinking alcoholic energy drinks are at high risk for alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose, caffeine overdose and participation in questionable behaviors. Caffeine overdose can be lethal, especially if the consumer has an existing medical condition.  

When serving alcoholic energy drinks keep these safety protocols in mind: 

· Keep track of the amount of drinks a person is having and how often 

· Watch for signs of alcohol poisoning or caffeine overdose 

· Understand the caffeine and alcohol concentration in each drink. Translate the concentration of alcohol and caffeine to beers and coffees to understand the drastic amount each can hold. 

· Offer a variety of food options to help lower the rate of alcohol absorption.  

While many manufacturers have discontinued a lot of their alcoholic energy drinks, there are still some in production. They may be at your restaurant or bar. If this is the case, please keep in mind the information provided above. Educate yourself and your co-workers on the dangers of alcoholic energy drinks in order to safeguard your customers. 

Having a beverage that offers a quick energy fix can be attractive to those feeling fatigued or believe caffeine can help give an edge when playing sports or for staying awake during an all-night study session before an exam. Although many energy drinks clearly warn on their websites that their beverages may not be suitable for children, the largest consumer of energy drinks are adolescents and college aged students.