10 Items You Must Avoid Combining with Alcohol

Key Insights

Annually, new research emerges, adding layers of complexity to the ongoing discussion about the pros and cons of alcohol consumption. Does a daily glass of wine benefit your heart, or does it increase cancer risks? Can beer reduce blood pressure, or does it elevate it? Is moderate drinking healthier, or is abstaining entirely the better choice? And how do we define the boundary between 'moderate' and 'excessive'?

Naturally, if you or your family has a history of alcohol misuse or alcoholism, avoiding alcohol altogether is probably the wisest decision [source: MedlinePlus]. However, even for those who drink responsibly and in moderation, certain scenarios exist where even minimal alcohol intake could endanger your health, reputation, or the safety of others.

To steer clear of possible hazards, awkward moments, and other unwanted consequences of drinking, take a look at our compilation of 10 items you should never combine with alcohol.

10: Medications

If you’ve ever used prescription painkillers, antidepressants, or specific antibiotics, you’ve likely noticed the standard caution: 'Avoid alcoholic beverages while on this medication.' Many over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and cough syrups, can also have negative interactions with alcohol, though these warnings are often buried in small print, making them easy to miss.

Prescription pain relievers like oxycodone and hydrocodone (commonly known as Percocet and Vicodin) can lead to dizziness, drowsiness, impaired coordination, and overdose risks when combined with alcohol. The same applies to prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids. Frequent use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) with alcohol has been linked to liver damage, and even aspirin can cause stomach irritation, bleeding, and ulcers. Antibiotics such as Metronidazole (Flagyl) and Azithromycin (Zithromax) may result in nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and liver damage if consumed with alcohol. Certain antidepressants mixed with alcohol can worsen depressive feelings and cause high blood pressure, drowsiness, and other side effects [source: NIH].

The range of possible interactions is extensive, covering far more medications than we can list here. If unsure, always consult your doctor or pharmacist, or err on the side of caution by avoiding alcohol until you’re certain the medication has cleared your system.

9: Dialing, Texting and Posting

The phenomenon of drunk dialing isn’t new, but the advent of cell phones, texting, and social media platforms has made it simpler than ever to humiliate ourselves in multiple ways.

In the past, drunk dialing required access to a landline and the ability to recall the number of the person you urgently wanted to contact. If you were lucky, you’d forget your mission by the time you made it back home. However, with smartphones now practically an extension of our hands, your next late-night slurred call, incoherent text messages, or impulsive uploads to Facebook, Instagram, or Vine could be just a few drinks and a couple of taps away.

If you struggle to resist calling your ex or posting questionable selfies after drinking, there’s good news: numerous anti-drunk-dialing apps allow you to temporarily block specific numbers, email addresses, and phone features—ideally while you’re still sober and thinking clearly. Google also offers tools like Gmail’s 'undo send' feature, which gives you 5 to 10 seconds to retract an email before it’s delivered [sources: Goldman].

8: Morel Mushrooms

Morel mushrooms are prized for their rich, earthy flavor and hearty texture. However, like many mushroom varieties, morels can trigger allergic reactions or stomach discomfort in some individuals, particularly if consumed raw or undercooked [sources: Cascio and Johnson, MDCH]. Even those who typically enjoy morels without issues might experience nausea or vomiting when pairing them with alcohol. Surprisingly, a past trouble-free experience with morels and alcohol doesn’t guarantee you won’t have a negative reaction in the future.

Despite these warnings, the combination of wine and morels is celebrated by many culinary enthusiasts. Wine Enthusiast magazine praises morels as 'highly versatile,' complementing both white and red wines. A quick online search for 'morels in wine sauce' reveals countless recipes from trusted sources. The takeaway? If you’re trying morels for the first time or after a long break, opt for nonalcoholic beverages and start with a small serving.

7: Energy Drinks

At first glance, combining alcohol with energy drinks might seem harmless. Since alcohol is a depressant, pairing it with a stimulant should balance things out, right? Unfortunately, the reality is far more complicated.

Typically, after consuming a few alcoholic beverages, many of us start to feel drowsy or lethargic. We can usually tell when we've reached our limit, prompting us to slow down. However, when energy drinks are introduced, the stimulating effects of caffeine, natural ingredients, or sugars can obscure the alcohol's impact, creating a false sense of alertness and sobriety. While these drinks may mask the intoxicating effects, they do not lower alcohol levels or enhance the body's ability to process it [sources: CDC, Ferreira].

Research conducted at Australian National University revealed that individuals aged 18-30 who consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks exhibited a greater inclination to continue drinking compared to those who drank alcohol alone [source: McKetin and Miller]. Further, a study in Gainesville, Florida, observed that bar-goers who consumed alcohol-energy drink combinations were three times more likely to exceed a breath alcohol content (BrAC) of .08 and four times more likely to plan on driving after leaving the bar [source: Thombs et al.].

6: Marijuana

Marijuana is allowed for medical purposes in at least 20 states and for recreational use in two [source: ONDCP]. However, its legality does not imply that mixing it with alcohol is safe.

Mixing alcohol with marijuana can result in tachycardia (a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute), elevated blood pressure, and significantly worsened impairment of cognitive abilities, motor skills, and driving performance compared to using either substance alone [sources: American Heart Association, NIDA].

Driving under the influence of even one of these substances is dangerous, but combining them amplifies the risk. A study by Maastricht University in the Netherlands revealed that low doses of alcohol and THC (the active compound in marijuana) each caused moderate driving impairment when taken separately. However, when combined, these low doses led to severe driving impairment. Despite the alcohol dose only producing a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04, the addition of THC resulted in driving performance equivalent to BAC levels between 0.09 and 0.14 [source: Ramaekers et al.].

Even without driving, combining alcohol and marijuana can trigger nausea, vomiting, dizziness, panic attacks, anxiety, or paranoia, especially if alcohol is consumed before marijuana [source: NCPIC].

5: Online Shopping

The next entry on our list might not harm your health, but it could seriously dent your finances. We're referring to the phenomenon of drunk shopping. With smartphones making it easy to drink and dial, online platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay have made it just as simple to embark on shopping sprees from the comfort of your couch—especially after a few glasses of your preferred drink.

Those who shop while intoxicated often only recall their purchases upon discovering confirmation emails the next day or when unexpected packages arrive days later. Reports include buying everything from CDs and quirky Gary Busey mugs to IKEA furniture and musical instruments during alcohol-fueled shopping sessions [sources: Dowling, The Guardian, McGlynn]. In one extreme instance, a man purchased a $10,000 motorcycle tour of New Zealand [source: Clifford].

If you're prone to online shopping after a few drinks, take preventive measures while sober. Remove your credit card details from your favorite websites and keep your cards in another room, away from your laptop, to curb impulsive purchases [source: Torrieri]. After all, drunk individuals tend to avoid extra effort.

4: Office Parties

Office parties, whether for holidays, summer picnics, or celebrating sales goals, often unleash unexpected behavior. Introduce alcohol to a group of colleagues who usually interact professionally, and it won’t be long before someone becomes overly affectionate with a coworker, overly candid with their boss, or outright confrontational with anyone nearby.

A study by the University of Birmingham, England, revealed that drinking in unfamiliar settings, like the office, can lower inhibitions more significantly than in familiar environments, such as bars. The brain adapts to familiar drinking contexts but struggles in unusual ones [sources: Birak, et al., Harding]. Even if you know your usual tolerance, it’s wise to avoid or limit alcohol in unfamiliar settings, including office parties, conferences, networking events, and especially job interviews where alcohol might be served. After all, you want to be part of the water-cooler conversations, not the topic of them.

3: Pregnancy

You might recall pregnant Betty Draper from "Mad Men" elegantly smoking and sipping a martini. If you grew up in the '70s or earlier, your mother might have even told you that drinking during pregnancy was common back then. Despite such anecdotes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) emphasizes that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy or while trying to conceive. Alcohol consumed by the mother passes directly to the baby through the placenta, and the baby’s underdeveloped liver cannot process it.

Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, stillbirths, low birth weight, and fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that can cause a range of disabilities, including abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, behavioral challenges, and cognitive impairments [sources: ACOG, CDC]. Although some studies suggest that light drinking during pregnancy may not significantly harm the fetus, even the researchers behind these studies do not recommend that pregnant women consume alcohol [source: Brooks].

2: Firearms

It’s common sense that handling firearms, like any activity requiring clear judgment and steady hands, should only be done while sober. However, it seems many Americans disregard this logic.

From 1997 to 2009, there were approximately 395,366 firearm-related deaths in the U.S., with alcohol playing a role in about one-third of these cases [source: Healy]. In 2010, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania reviewed U.S. laws on firearm use by intoxicated individuals, driven in part by these alarming statistics:

While all states enforce drunk driving laws, only 26 states have regulations addressing the use of firearms while intoxicated [source: Carr et al.]. This brings us to the number one item on our list of things you should never combine with alcohol.

1: Driving

Is it even necessary to mention? Drinking and driving remain a dangerous combination.

Since 1980, drunk driving fatalities in the U.S. have decreased by half, but tragically, they rose by 4.6 percent between 2011 and 2012, with 10,322 deaths making up 31 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in 2012 [sources: MADD, MADD].

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that repeat offenders are responsible for one-third of all drunk driving arrests, crashes, deaths, and injuries, often driving even with a suspended license. All 50 states have implemented ignition interlock laws, mandating that convicted drunk drivers install devices in their vehicles to prevent the engine from starting if alcohol is detected. These laws differ by state, with some applying to repeat offenders, others to high blood alcohol content convictions, and some to all drunk driving offenses, including first-time offenders [source: GHSA]. Despite these measures, the CDC estimates there were 112 million instances of alcohol-impaired driving in 2010 alone.

There are always alternatives: Choose a designated driver, call a taxi, reach out to a friend or parent, or stay overnight. The key is to never drink and drive.