Why mixing alcohol, sugar and caffeine can be a bad idea

“Is it OK to mix Red Bull with alcohol?” one of my students asked. The question was prompted by the recent tragic story of a teenager who died after reportedly consuming a beverage with the repugnant name FCKD UP, described as a “caffeinated, high-alcohol, high-sugar drink.” Many accounts focused on the enhanced inebriation potential of such beverages because of the caffeine and sugar content.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, while caffeine is a stimulant.