Diet drink mixers boost intoxication levels

Mixing diet drinks with alcohol can lead to higher levels of intoxication than with a regular or sugar-sweetened beverage.
This is according to a new study conducted by researchers at Northern Kentucky University, who found a person’s breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) after consuming alcohol is influenced by factors like food and drink.
Participants attended three sessions, where they received one of three doses – vodka mixed with a soft drink, vodka and a diet drink and vodka with a placebo. Their BrACs were recorded, as were their levels of intoxication, fatigue, impairment and willingness to drive.
Cecile Marczinski, assistant professor of psychology at the university, said alcohol paired with a diet drink leads to higher BrACs and behaviour was most affected when subjects consumed this combination.
“While mixing alcohol with a diet beverage mixer may limit the amount of calories being consumed, higher BrACs are a much more significant health risk than a few extra calories,” she added.
This comes after research to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego stated there could be a link between diet drinks and depression.