Students who want to get a buzz without a hangover the next morning should consider drinking a Red Bull — without the alcohol.
Red Bull is a non-alcoholic drink that provides the body with taurine, glucuronolactone and caffeine, plus vitamin B and carbohydrates. It was specially developed as a drink for times of increased stress or strain. According to its makers, the drink increases physical endurance, improves reaction speed and concentration, increases mental alertness, improves the overall feeling of well being, stimulates metabolism and increases stamina. Basically, it stimulates the body and the mind.
Some people commonly use Red Bull for energy after an intensive working day is over and before a long night begins, before tests and exams when there is no time to sleep or as “first-aid” after a long party night. Some use Red Bull prior to demanding athletic activities, although it is not formulated specifically to deliver re-hydration.
“It gives you a little energy,” said Jeremy Bradford of Wimbleton Sportsplex. “I would recommend it for anyone who needed a quick energy boost.”
Although the drink does not contain alcohol, many, when thinking of Red Bull, associate it with the negative effects of alcoholic beverages. Officials deny that they market their drink to alcohol vendors, although some sources indicate that liquor stores and bars are the main purchasers of the drink. Some see Red Bull as an aphrodisiac when mixed with alcohol, while others believe that it makes them less drunk and allows them to drink more because they feel awake and alive.
Most people who try Red Bull for the first time usually end up ordering more than one drink, according to Todd Dudley, manager at the Young Avenue Deli.
The danger lies not in the contents of the drink, but in the method in which it is being consumed.
“Red Bull is drunk out of a can by itself, but usually mixed with vodka and Jägermeister,” said Dudley. “It’s a great alternative to alcohol, though. You can drink two or three Red Bulls and feel good without feeling it in the morning. We go through about four cases a week.”
“There is a lot of advertising going on at a lot of universities, most of which is negative,” said Jacqueline DeFouw, health educator at The University of Memphis. “Most of that advertising shows that you can mix alcohol with Red Bull to drink more. I think it is a marketing ploy for bars, because that is how they make their money.”
The amount of caffeine in Red Bull is a concern to many health professionals. However, the drink contains 80 mg of caffeine per 250 ml, or about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.
“Red Bull does contain a lot of caffeine, but no more than a can of Mountain Dew,” said DeFouw.
“Red Bull is great by itself if you need to study or just a quick pick-me-up,” Dudley said. “It may not have the best taste in the world, but it’s better than a strong cup of coffee.”
