It is cheap, it keeps you going ‘til daylight, and many of the people drinking it may not realise just how much harm it can do to their health. What am I talking about? White rum mixed with an energy drink, otherwise known as a Special.

You will find it at just about any dance, bar, or street party in Jamaica. The combination has been popular long enough to have its own song, thanks to Beenie Man and Fambo. Remember, Rum and Redbull?

Earlier this year I spoke about the health risks associated with Special and, to my surprise, I received quite a bit of backlash online. Some popular party promoters even messaged me asking, “Mi boss, how you a ban this?” So let me clear that up. I am not banning special, nor was there ever a plan to do so. What I hope is that the conversation encourages more Jamaicans to think about what they are drinking and the possible effects on their health.

WHAT PEOPLE TOLD THE NCDA

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) recently conducted a study involving 20 focus groups with taxi drivers, farmers, construction workers, fishers, and young people, asking them about their consumption of Special. What they described was worrying — racing hearts, high blood pressure, chest pain, blackouts, memory problems, difficulty sleeping, and aggressive behaviour. Some also reported consuming Specials alongside ganja and cigarettes.

What concerned me most, however, was that many participants already knew the risks. They continued drinking it for various reasons. Some said they were affordable; others used them to cope with stress or to get through a long shift or a night out, while for others, drinking them had simply become part of socialising.

This tells us something important: Knowing that something is harmful does not necessarily mean people will stop doing it. Simply telling people to stop will not fix this. We must help them make healthier choices.

WIDE AWAKE, BUT STILL DRUNK

Here is the problem with the mixture, explained simply. Rum is a downer. It slows you down, affects your judgement and coordination, and eventually makes you feel tired. The caffeine in an energy drink is an upper. It makes you feel awake and alert. When you combine the two, caffeine can mask some of alcohol’s effects. You feel fine, perhaps even energetic, but you are still intoxicated. Your judgement and reaction time are still affected, and you may end up drinking far more than you intended.

Researchers sometimes describe this as being “wide-awake drunk”. And when you consider that some white rum sold in Jamaica contains as much as 63 per cent alcohol, there is even more reason to be careful about how much you consume.

Think about the drive home after a party. You have been drinking Special for hours, but you feel awake enough to get behind the wheel. What you may not realise is that the caffeine has not removed any alcohol from your system. You may feel alert, but you are no safer driving.

The combination can also affect your heart. Energy drinks can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, while excessive alcohol consumption can affect the heart’s rhythm. For someone with high blood pressure or an underlying heart condition, this can be particularly dangerous.

This is especially concerning in Jamaica, where hypertension remains one of our major public health challenges. Many Jamaicans are living with high blood pressure without knowing it. The man at the bar ordering his third Special may very well be one of them. Add hours of dancing, the heat, alcohol, and not enough water, and you also increase the risk of dehydration, dizziness, and exhaustion.

This is also a good reminder to know your numbers. Get your blood pressure checked, particularly if you have a family history of hypertension. Many people only discover they have high blood pressure when they develop complications, and by then significant damage may already have been done.

ENJOY YOURSELF, BUT KNOW THE RISKS

I know Jamaicans love a good party. Our music, dances, fêtes, and celebrations are part of who we are. I am certainly not asking anyone to give that up. What I am asking is that we pay closer attention to what we are drinking and how it affects our bodies.

If you choose to drink alcohol, avoid mixing it with energy drinks. Track how much you consume rather than relying on how you feel. Drink water throughout the evening and make arrangements for a sober driver to take you home. If you experience chest pain, a racing heart, or unusual dizziness after drinking, stop and seek medical attention.

Parents also have a role to play. Energy drinks are widely available, and young people need to understand the risks associated with consuming them, particularly when mixed with alcohol. These are conversations we should be having at home. Promoters and bar operators can also help by making drinking water readily available and encouraging responsible alcohol consumption.

On our part, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue working with the NCDA and our health partners to educate Jamaicans about these risks. We must also use the findings of this research to better understand why people continue consuming Special despite knowing the possible consequences, and how we can reach them more effectively.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that mixing alcohol with caffeine can lead people to drink more, increasing the risk of alcohol-related harm. International research supports these concerns, and the experiences reported by Jamaicans give us further reason to pay attention.

As minister of health and wellness I have a responsibility to raise these concerns, even when the message is unpopular. People are free to make their own choices, but those choices should be informed by an understanding of the risks.

So go out, enjoy the music, enjoy the company, and have a good time. Just remember, the drink isn’t what is special. You are.

Dr Christopher Tufton is Jamaica’s minister of health and wellness.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton (Photo: Naphtali Junior)