Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could keep you more alert as you get drunk, but it can also lead to heart palpitations, a new Australian study has found.
澳大利亚一项新的研究发现：将能量饮料和酒精混合饮用时，喝多后会较平时醉酒警醒得多，但同时也会造成心悸。
A team from the University of Tasmania report their findings today in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
塔斯马尼亚大学的一个研究团队今天在《酒精中毒：临床与实验研究》杂志上报道了他们的这一发现。
"Drinking energy drinks and alcohol together may provide a double-edged effect, " the researchers write.
研究者们在文中写道“同时引用能量饮料和酒精或许如同双刃剑”。
"The increased stimulation from energy drinks may negate some intoxication-related sedation side effects by increasing alertness. However, it could also lead to negative physiological side effects associated with over-stimulation."
能量饮料的额外刺激也许可通过使饮用者更清醒而部分抵消酒精中毒导致的镇静作用，然而，同时也会因为过度刺激产生消极的副作用。
The researchers surveyed 403 Australians aged 18 to 35 and compared their consumption of alcohol and energy drinks (AmEDs), with their consumption of alcohol only, in the preceding 6 months.
研究人员们调查了403名年龄在18-35之间的澳大利亚人，对比了六个月中同时引用酒精和能量饮料（AmEDs）和只引用酒精的情况。
In Australia, an energy drink contains a similar amount of caffeine to a cup of instant coffee (about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 250 millilitres), says Amy Peacock, who worked on the research as part of her PhD in the School of Psychology. She says the recommended maximum daily intake is two energy drinks per day.
在塔斯马尼亚大学心理学系攻读博士学位期间致力于此项研究的Amy Pwacock说：在澳大利亚，一份能量饮料和一杯即溶咖啡中的咖啡因含量相等（约为250毫升中含80毫克咖啡因）。Amy同时表示能量饮料的每日推荐最大饮用量是两份。
They found when people drank AmEDs they were more likely to have symptoms of over-stimulation including heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, agitation, tremors, increased speech speed, irritability and tension.
Peacock和同事们发现，当受试者混合饮用时（平均2.5份能量饮料兑7标准份酒精，饮用量最大的是10份能量饮料兑20标准份酒精），他们很容易产生被过度刺激的症状，包括心悸，入睡困难，激动，战栗，语速加快，易怒，压力过大等。
She says these findings are in keeping with the overall results from previous international research.
“这些副作用都是咖啡因过量摄入的明显症状”Peacock如是说。她认为这些发现和之前各国研究的大体结果是一致的。
The researchers also found AmED consumption countered the sedative effects of alcohol, with users having less speech and walking difficulties, confusion, exhaustion and sadness.
研究人员们还发现AmED混合饮用还能克服酒精的镇静作用（例如，少言，意识模糊，疲倦，和悲伤）
Risk-taking behaviour
冒险的行为
The researchers also investigated the link between AmEDs and alcohol and risk-taking behaviours, including those involving driving, sexual behaviour, aggressive behaviour, illicit drug use and gambling.
研究人员们也调查了AmEDs，酒精和冒险行为（包括驾驶，性行为，好斗行为，违禁毒品使用，赌博）之间的联系。有意思的是，他们发现饮用AmEDs的人群相对于仅仅饮用酒精的人群会较少地被卷入风险较大的行为。
Interestingly, they found that people drinking AmEDs were less likely to engage in these risky behaviours - despite drinking half a standard drink more than when drinking alcohol only.
这个结果和之前一些国际认为AmED饮用者会更多地参与冒险行为的研究完全不吻合。Peacock说“这个结果也是我们完全没料到的，很让人惊讶”。
Peacock and colleagues are currently carrying out laboratory studies to investigate further the effects of AmEDs and alcohol use on the ability to carry out computer tasks that assess risk taking.
Peacock和同事们目前正在试图进一步研究AmEDs和酒精的摄入对完成某些可评估其冒险性的电脑任务能力的影响。
Study limitations
研究的局限性
Professor Steve Allsop of the National Drug Research Institute says he is not sure why the latest study has found less risky behaviour associated with AmED drinking.
国家药物研究研究所的Steve Allsop教授说，他并不清楚为何最新研究发现饮用AmED和更少的冒险性行为有联系。但这个结果很有可能产生于研究中的选择偏见，毕竟结果依赖于调查中受试者自己的描述。“人们对自己过去的行为解释是不同的”，Allsop这么说道。
But he says the findings do suggest there are no significant benefits to mixing energy drinks and alcohol, whereas there are significant risks, particularly for people drinking large amounts.
但Allsop教授指出现在的结论至少可以认为能量饮料和酒精的混合饮用无明显益处，因为存在巨大风险，尤其对于饮用量较大的人群。他说道“从所有研究中我们可以得出一个关键信息：咖啡因并不是对抗酒精副作用的合适预防措施。”
Wide awake drunk
过于清醒的醉汉
Allsop says AmEDs may keep people awake longer so they drink more, and are likely to feel less drunk than they really are.
Allsop认为，也许因为AmED能让人们保持清醒的时间更长，所以他们喝得更多，还自以为自己比实际更为清醒。Allsop说“由于能量饮料的效果，人们会低估自己的醉酒程度，而更容易进行酒后驾驶或者类似冒险。”
"The best description is wide-awake drunk, " he says.
“对他们最好的描述是过于清醒的醉汉”Allsop如是说。
"The perception of intoxication is a bit distorted when you add energy drinks in, " says Kaye.
国家药物和酒精研究中心的Sharlene Kaye博士同意Allsop的这一评论。她说，以前的研究证明能量饮料也许能使个体更清醒，但对改善表现无益。“当你在酒里加入能量饮料，你对自己醉酒程度的判断实在是不怎么准确”Kaye这么说道。
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