According to this study published in the most recent issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, and written by researchers at Temple University, coffee does not “reverse the negative cognitive impact of alcohol.” Translation: if you’re drunk, drinking coffee will not help to sober you up. In fact, it may fool you into thinking that all of a sudden you’re sober again.
The tests performed on young adult mice in Temple’s laboratory showed that caffeine–the equivalent of one to six cups of coffee–made mice more alert but did “not reverse the learning problems caused by alcohol [pure ethanol], including their ability to avoid things they should have known could hurt them.” Such as drunk driving? Approaching mice of the opposite sex? Engaging in antisocial behavior?
Co-author Thomas Gould (PhD Temple University) said,
“The myth about coffee’s sobering powers is particularly important to debunk because the co-use of caffeine and alcohol could actually lead to poor decisions with disastrous outcomes.”
Extending the research to what this could means for humans, he points out that the recent energy-drink-cum-alcohol craze could offer more risks (drunk driving) than benefits (getting ripped and being able drink all night).
this explains a lot.
‘energy-drink-cum-alcohol craze’. Sounds like a Temple U party. Hiyooooooooooooooo.
Collin Flatt – Temple Alum Class of 2000
Did we really need students to spend money and time researching what we already know? Isn’t this common knowledge? There is only once thing that sober’s you up: time. C’mon people, stop being so stupid.