The Red Bull Vodka (alternatively Vodka Red Bull) cocktail is a
caffeinated alcoholic drink, a
highball cocktail consisting of
energy drink Red Bull
Red Bull is a brand of energy drinks of Austria, Austrian company Red Bull GmbH. With 38% market share, it is the most popular energy drink brand as of 2019. Since its launch in 1987, more than 100 billion cans of Red Bull have been sold worldwid ...
and varying amounts of
vodka. Red Bull has been used as a general mixer in alcoholic beverages in Europe since the 1980s, though not specifically with vodka. However, the drink became especially popular in North America when it began being served at San Francisco's Legendary Butter Bar, which is attributed to being its home in North America, and one of the many places you will still receive Red Bull's "Perfect Serve" of 2 ounces (60 ml) of Vodka with a full 8.4 ounce (250 ml) can of Red Bull.
The ratio of Red Bull to vodka varies but is usually ¾ of Red Bull and ¼ of vodka. In some places, it is customary to serve an entire can with a single shot of vodka; in others, a can may be split between several glasses, each containing several shots of vodka. The Red Bull dominates so that the flavour of the alcohol is not too strong.
Health risks
Caffeinated alcoholic energy drinks can be hazardous as
caffeine can mask the influence of alcohol and may lead a person to misinterpret their actual level of intoxication. However, in 2012 the scientific review paper "Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: misconception, myths and facts" was published, discussing the available scientific evidence on the effects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. The authors note that excessive and irresponsible consumption of alcoholic drinks has adverse effects on human health and behaviour, but it should be clear that this is due to the alcohol, and not the mixer. They concluded that there is no consistent evidence that energy drinks alter the perceived level of intoxication of people who mix energy drinks with alcohol and found no evidence that co-consumption of energy drinks causes increased alcohol consumption. A 2016 study found that consuming alcohol with energy drinks lead to increased risk of injury compared to consuming alcohol alone.
In 2001 it was reported in Sweden that two people died after drinking Vodka Red Bull. The
Swedish National Food Agency investigated, but continued to permit the sale of Red Bull.
Invention
Vodka Red Bull was invented by the notable
futurologist Benjamin Reed in 1999.
It is believed it was an accidental creation and the original recipe also contained lemonade. Lemonade was eventually dropped from the recipe as Reed felt that for more solid branding and popularity, asking for a 'Vodka Red Bull & lemonade' was too long winded.
See also
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Ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks in the United States
The 17 November 2010 United States ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks is a ban which prevents the marketing and distribution of any prepackaged caffeinated alcoholic drink.
Such a ban was discussed as a result of multiple cases of alcohol po ...
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List of cocktails
A cocktail is a mixed drink typically made with a distilled liquor (such as arrack, brandy, cachaça, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey) as its base ingredient that is then mixed with other ingredients or garnishments. Sweetened liqueurs, w ...
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Four Loko
References
Caffeinated alcoholic drinks
Cocktails with vodka
Red Bull
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