A study has confirmed that high energy drinks are as dangerous as alcohol to those who decide to get behind the wheel. The worst offenders include teenagers, sales reps and truckers. The cause is reportedly due to the caffeine content in these drinks.

Excessive consumption can result to muscle twitching, irregular or rapid heartbeat and lapses in concentration. These are symptoms normally associated with drunkenness. Drivers who rely on these high energy drinks do get an initial burst of energy but after that, they suffer a serious relapse characterized by tiredness. What makes this even more alarming is the fact that the British Soft Drinks Association show that energy drink sales in the UK are soaring. Figures from 2002 to 2008 show a 74.1% increase. Last year, the average person consumed more than six liters of the caffeine-filled drinks. Unlike what most of its consumers think, another high-caffeine drink can’t be expected to bring the same effects in a span of a few hours.

[via autoexpress]

Tags: car news, energy drinks, energy drinks alcohol

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