Energy drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine have proved to be very popular among underage drinkers. However, consumption of these beverages has been linked to extreme levels of intoxication and serious injuries to college students and teenagers, who form the biggest market for these drinks. Moreover, New Jersey DUI lawyers are concerned that underage drinkers may suffer from the misconception that these beverages are safe and do not constitute alcohol use because they contain caffeine, too. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, one of the risks associated with the consumption of energy drinks, like Four Loko, is the fact that they contain caffeine, which serves to conceal the effects of the alcohol. What that means for the novice drinker is that he may remain alert even after having several drinks because of the caffeine in the beverage. Underage drinkers may quickly consume too much alcohol, pass out and need to be rushed to the emergency room.
A study conducted recently at a New York hospital examined 11 cases of persons who had to be taken to the emergency room, passed out and critically ill. All these persons had consumed caffeinated alcohol beverages. The doctors in the New York Hospital found that the symptoms these patients suffered were much more severe than those typically found when teenagers drink traditional alcoholic beverages.
New Jersey DUI lawyers are concerned that sports drinks will be deemed to be safe by teenage drinkers. If you drink these beverages and drive, there could easily be enough alcohol in your blood for you to be arrested for DUI. Additionally, a person may be at a serious risk of death because of excessive alcohol consumption.
The New Jersey DUI lawyers at Helmer Paul Conley and Kasselman represent persons charged with DUI across New Jersey.
