Why Mixing Alcohol and Coffee Makes You Drink More and Get Drunker

If you’ve ever mixed a cocktail with a shot of espresso—or sipped an alcoholic energy drink while feeling surprisingly sober—you’re not alone. But that ‘I’m not drunk’ feeling might be dangerously misleading. Research and U.S. health authorities confirm that combining alcohol with caffeine can make you underestimate how much you've consumed—leading to more drinks, higher blood alcohol levels, and serious risks behind the wheel or in social settings.

Yes, drinking alcohol mixed with caffeine (like coffee or energy drinks) makes you feel less intoxicated than you actually are, causing you to drink more. Studies show that people who consume caffeine with alcohol are up to three times more likely to get drunk and four times more likely to drive drunk compared to those drinking alcohol alone.

The Myth of the ‘Wine and Coffee’ Buzz

For those who grew up in the 1970s, Teresa Teng’s hit song “Wine and Coffee” was everywhere. Few could have guessed it described more than just romance—it reflected a real phenomenon. Decades later, both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flagged the combination of alcohol and caffeine as dangerous, issuing official warnings against it.

What Are Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages (CABs)?

Beyond casual mixing, some manufacturers produce pre-mixed caffeinated alcoholic beverages—known as CABs. These drinks typically contain 5–12% alcohol along with significant amounts of caffeine. Most producers don’t disclose the exact caffeine content. Between 2002 and 2008, the two top-selling CAB brands saw their sales explode by 67 times, reaching over 80 million liters. At one point, around 30 companies were making these products, many of them targeting younger drinkers.

Why Caffeine Masks Your Intoxication

The core issue is perception. When you drink alcohol, your body gives you cues—like slowed reactions or dizziness—that help you gauge how intoxicated you are. Caffeine disrupts those signals. It doesn’t speed up alcohol metabolism or reduce your blood alcohol concentration, but it does make you feel more alert and less impaired. A 2006 study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research confirmed this: people who consumed alcohol mixed with an energy drink (like a sports drink with caffeine) reported fewer hangover-like symptoms such as headache, weakness, and dry mouth. Yet their actual coordination and reaction times remained just as impaired.

Scientific Findings on Impairment and Risk

Research highlights multiple dangers. A 2009 University of Florida study found that people who mixed alcohol with energy drinks were three times more likely to get drunk and four times more likely to drive under the influence compared to those who drank alcohol alone. Another survey conducted in 2006 across 10 North Carolina universities showed that students who mixed the two reported twice as many weekly drunk episodes. They also experienced higher rates of risky behaviours—including sexual assault, riding with drunk drivers, alcohol poisoning, and injuries.

The FDA Crackdown on CABs

In response to growing evidence, the FDA took action. In November 2010, the agency sent warning letters to four companies producing caffeinated alcoholic drinks. The FDA stated that the added caffeine in these alcoholic beverages was an unsafe food additive. The companies were given 15 days to outline corrective actions or face legal steps to halt sales. This came after the FDA determined that no manufacturer had applied for GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status for adding caffeine to alcoholic drinks—a requirement under U.S. food safety law. While the FDA allows up to 0.0002% caffeine in non-alcoholic beverages without special approval, it has never approved caffeine in alcoholic beverages. As a result, CABs exist in a legal grey area: unapproved, potentially illegal, and deemed unsafe by federal regulators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drink coffee while consuming alcohol?

No, mixing coffee (or any caffeine source) with alcohol is not safe. Caffeine can mask the feeling of intoxication, leading you to underestimate how drunk you are and potentially drink more. This increases the risk of alcohol-related harm, including impaired driving and accidental injury, without reducing your actual blood alcohol level.

What are caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs)?

CABs are pre-mixed drinks that combine alcohol (typically 5–12% ABV) with caffeine. Most do not disclose their caffeine content. These drinks became especially popular among younger drinkers from 2002 to 2008, with some brands seeing massive sales growth. They are now considered unsafe and were subject to FDA warnings due to lack of approval for caffeine in alcoholic products.

Does caffeine help you sober up or metabolize alcohol faster?

No, caffeine does not speed up alcohol metabolism or reduce your blood alcohol concentration. It only makes you feel more awake and less impaired, which can lead to risky behaviours like drinking more or driving under the influence while still being over the legal limit.

Why did the FDA ban caffeine in alcoholic drinks?

The FDA determined that caffeine added to alcoholic beverages was an unsafe food additive. No manufacturer had proven its safety under GRAS guidelines, and the agency found that caffeine masked impairment without reducing risk. As a result, it issued warnings to companies producing these drinks, stating the caffeine content was unlawful.

How much more likely are you to drive drunk when mixing alcohol and caffeine?

According to a 2009 University of Florida study, people who mix alcohol with caffeine-heavy drinks like energy drinks are four times more likely to drive drunk compared to those who consume alcohol alone, despite feeling less impaired.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Clarity and Balance

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