What Drinking Alcohol and Coffee Together Does to You

If you have ever thought that drinking coffee after consuming alcohol could 'wash away' the intoxication and remove alcohol toxins from the body, know that you are seriously mistaken. The combination of alcohol and caffeine is not only dangerous but can even be fatal. According to Dr. Robert Swift from the Alcohol and Addiction Research Center at Brown University in the U.S., caffeine can 'deceive' the brain into thinking that a person is less intoxicated than they actually are. According to the website 'Men's Health', alcohol consumption leads to the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine makes us feel good or, in other words, 'elated'. Dopamine triggers the release of a chemical called cyclic AMP in the body. This chemical suddenly activates the brain, making the individual feel more energetic and lively. For example, intoxicated individuals tend to talk more. To prevent the body's efficiency from being disrupted, the brain releases specific enzymes during alcohol consumption to maintain balance. When alcohol consumption stops, its calming effect becomes apparent: other enzymes are produced in the body that slow down reactions and brain processes. This is why shortly after drinking alcohol, a person feels tired, drowsy, or dizzy. However, when caffeine (found in coffee) is added to this mix in the body, it stops the activity of the enzymes that control the effects of cyclic AMP. In fact, caffeine blocks these enzymes. This means that while the body gradually slows down and the reaction time to external stimuli actually increases, the individual still believes they are alert and not intoxicated. Therefore, they may drink more alcohol or drive. According to Dr. Swift, the problem is that caffeine does not reduce the amount of alcohol in the body but makes the brain think it is not intoxicated, leading to dangerous actions such as drunk driving. Now, if you drink alcohol and coffee before going to sleep, what happens to you? While you sleep, the effects of alcohol return, and you wake up, but since you have also consumed coffee, you will likely find it hard to fall back asleep. The result is that you will wake up feeling groggy and tired. Both caffeine and alcohol cause dehydration, worsening the body's condition. The danger of alcoholic energy drinks is increasing, and there are no regulations to control them. Researchers say that due to the dangerous nature of testing the simultaneous effects of alcohol and caffeine on the human body, there has been almost no comprehensive scientific study on this matter. They do not know what amount of caffeine consumed with alcohol can be low-risk or safe, and how this relates to the weight of the consumer. Scientific observations have shown that consuming alcoholic energy drinks makes a person feel less intoxicated and drink more than their body can normally handle, leading to severe intoxication and dangerous behavior. Currently, it seems that the only recommendation from doctors is not to consume alcohol and caffeine simultaneously. In this context, 53 people have died from 'alcohol abuse' in Iran over the past seven months.