How many times have you ordered a Vodka Red Bull at your favorite bar? Or pounded an energy drink to “wake you up” before a big night of party hopping?

Well, you may want to think twice about ordering up this risky cocktail from now on.

Apparently, according to researchers from Wake Forest University, “College students who consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks were twice as likely to be hurt or injured, twice as likely to require medical attention, and twice as likely to ride with an intoxicated driver, compared to students who did not consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks.”

WOW. Those are some heavy claims and statistics. And that is not all, it gets much worse.

“Students who drank alcohol mixed with energy drinks were more than twice as likely to take advantage of someone else sexually, and almost twice as likely to be taken advantage of sexually.”

After reading this information, I was astounded that people who enjoy an extra boost from their cocktails could really be that much more likely to hurt themselves, others, sexually assault, or be sexually assaulted…

And then I read the profile of those most likely to consume alcohol and energy drinks: “Students who were male, white, intramural athletes, Greek society members or pledges, or older were significantly more likely to consume alcohol and energy drinks.”

Suddenly, it all made sense. Just kidding…

All joking and general stereotypes aside, the research was conducted by a web-based survey of 4,271 students from 10 different universities, which we all know can’t be the most reliable source of info. Most students were probably still hungover when they were required to take the survey for a class or pestered to take it through the university email system with promises of a free ipod or restaurant certificate.

So, I feel this type of study should truly be taken with a grain of salt. Perhaps the most helpful thing to take away from it is the knowledge that caffeine (main ingredient in energy drinks) is a stimulant and alchol is a depressant, therefore they sort of cancel each other out.

In other words, although you may be getting completely loaded, you won’t be able to tell as easily with the energy drink masking the effects, until it’s too late.