The Impact of Ethanol Plus Caffeine Exposure on Cognitive, Emotional, and Motivational Effects Related to Social Functioning

The impact of caffeine on ethanol consumption and abuse has become a topic of great interest due to the rise in popularity of energy drinks. Energy drinks have many different components, although the main active ingredient is caffeine. These drinks are frequently taken in combination with alcohol, with the belief that caffeine can offset some of the intoxicating effects of ethanol. However, scientific research has not universally supported the idea that caffeine can reduce the effects of ethanol in humans or in rodents, and the mechanisms mediating caffeine–ethanol interactions are not well understood. Caffeine acts as a nonselective adenosine A1 and A2A receptor antagonist, while ethanol has been demonstrated to increase the basal adenosinergic tone via multiple mechanisms. In this chapter, we discuss animal studies that have assessed the impact of ethanol plus caffeine combinations on social processes related to motivation, emotion, and cognition.