Mixing alcohol with energy drinks has emerged as a popular trend over the last decade. However, epidemiological studies have found this consumption to be associated with increased hazards, such as binge drinking, increased alcohol-related harm and risk of developing alcohol use disorder. The mechanisms underlying these effects are not clear, but much attention has been attributed to caffeine. However, taurine, another common ingredient in energy drinks, has also been associated with the dopamine elevating properties of ethanol, and may in this respect contribute to the increased liability associated with the mixture of alcohol and energy drinks. In the present study we measured locomotor activity, a phenomenon previously linked to the dopamine activating and reinforcing properties of the drug, following acute systemic administration with caffeine (1, 5, 15, 30 mg/kg), taurine (30, 60, 300, 600 mg/kg) and ethanol (1.75, 2.5, 3.25 g/kg), alone or in combination. We found that ethanol and caffeine, but not taurine, increased locomotion compared to vehicle. In addition, when combined with ethanol, caffeine, but not taurine, increased the locomotor stimulatory effect of ethanol. Furthermore, the combination of caffeine and taurine were able to further enhance the ethanol-induced locomotor response. Eleven days of intermittent caffeine exposure produced a sensitized response to the caffeine-induced locomotion, but did not alter the additive effect produced by the combination of caffeine and taurine on ethanol-induced locomotion. Based on the present study we suggest that the combination of caffeine and taurine, at a specific dose range, enhances the locomotor stimulatory properties of ethanol, a phenomenon previously linked to the reinforcing properties of the drug.

在过去的十年中，将酒精与能量饮料混合已成为一种流行趋势。但是，流行病学研究发现，这种饮酒会增加危害，例如暴饮暴食，与酒精有关的危害增加以及发生酒精使用障碍的风险。这些作用的潜在机制尚不清楚，但咖啡因已引起了很多关注。然而，牛磺酸，能量饮料中的另一种常见成分，也与乙醇的多巴胺升高特性有关，并且在这方面可能导致与酒精和能量饮料的混合物相关的增加的责任感。在本研究中，我们测量了运动活性，该现象以前与该药物的多巴胺激活和增强特性有关，单独或组合使用咖啡因（1、5、15、30 mg / kg），牛磺酸（30、60、300、600 mg / kg）和乙醇（1.75、2.5、3.25 g / kg）急性全身给药后。我们发现，与媒介物相比，乙醇和咖啡因（而非牛磺酸）增加了运动。另外，当与乙醇，咖啡因而不是牛磺酸联合使用时，可增加乙醇的运动刺激作用。此外，咖啡因和牛磺酸的组合能够进一步增强乙醇诱导的运动反应。咖啡因间歇性暴露11天对咖啡因引起的运动产生了敏化反应，但并未改变咖啡因和牛磺酸组合对乙醇引起的运动的累加作用。根据目前的研究，我们建议在特定剂量范围内将咖啡因和牛磺酸联合使用，