The alcohol consumption, as described, definitely has known associations with high risk for bad outcomes.
As described, a 12 pack on one night a week is 168 grams in one drinking session, and that is binge drinking.
Binge drinking has been definitively associated by the CDC with a host of risks, including:
Unintentional injuries (e.g., car crashes, falls, burns, drowning)
Intentional injuries (e.g., firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence)
Alcohol poisoning
Sexually transmitted diseases
Unintended pregnancy
Children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
High blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases
Liver disease
Neurological damage
Sexual dysfunction
Poor control of diabetes
No such strong correlations with energy drink consumption and bad outcomes such as these has yet been demonstrated so clearly.
Alcohol is way unhealthier. As others said, it’s not that much caffeine, alcohol is also way more addictive and causes 2.8 million deaths anually, and since 2004 only 34 deaths have a confirmed link to Energy drinks.
I’m not the only of us who voted before reading the conditions, which were omitted from the poll text. But I’ll still go with “other” because it depends on a consumer’s age, body chemistry, activity level, prior and subsequent substance ingestion, the volume and ABV (percentage) of beer in that 12-pack, and how long the evening lasts. A 12-pack of 8oz cans of 4% brew ==> just under 4oz of pure alcohol. A 12-pack of 16oz cans of 8.5% brew ==> just over 16oz of alcohol, like slugging two liters of spirits (plus a big sip).
Lots of sugar plus caffeine every day vs one non-toxic binge per week? I sure can’t say Monsters are healthier.
I don’t drink beer. I will have alcohol a few times a year. I drink Bang energy drinks (no sugar, BTW) 4 times per week or so. Most people think I look 10-12 years younger than I am and I am in the best shape and health (per blood work, BP, etc) of my life in my early 40s. I’m probably not typical of an “energy drink user,” though. I don’t do Monster, red Bull, and other high sugar stuff. Most of those guys I know also wash their teeth with Mountain Dew and eat Twinkies for dinner. Almost all the guys I know who have a 6pack after work have huge guts, shortness of breath, high anxiety. Though most of them smoke, too.
