Concomitant caffeine increases voluntary alcohol consumption in male, but not female, adolescent C57BL/6J mice.

Background: The notion that stimulating qualities of energy drinks reduce overall depressant effects of alcohol has resulted in an increase in the popularity of combining energy drinks with alcohol among young adults and teenagers. Alcohol misuse often emerges during or shortly after vulnerable adolescent years. Even though energy drinks are frequently advertised to and enjoyed by adolescents, there are limited investigations on the neurobehavioral effects of combining caffeine with alcohol during adolescence.