Health Fitness

It's a classic part of the hangover cure, but that mug of coffee may be only masking the symptoms of excess.

According to scientists in the U.S., coffee not only fails to sober you up, but makes it harder for people to realise they are drunk.

The use of caffeinated energy drinks can even lead to impaired judgment.

Coffee, which has been considered an effective hangover cure for years, can actually make you feel worse

The study, by scientists at Temple University in Philadelphia, found that while caffeine makes us more alert, it only conceals the effects of the night before.

Thomas Gould, who led the study, said: 'The myth about coffee's sobering powers is particularly important to debunk because the co-use of caffeine and alcohol could actually lead to poor decisions with disastrous outcomes.

'People who feel tired and intoxicated after consuming alcohol may be more likely to acknowledge that they are drunk.'

During the study researchers gave groups of adult mice various doses of caffeine. They were also given ethanol, or pure alcohol, to induce drunkenness.

The mice were then placed into a maze and watched as they tried to navigate it.

Caffeine failed to reverse the negative effects of the alcohol.

While the mice were calmer with the caffeine they were less able to avoid the possible pitfalls of being inebriated.

The researchers fear those with a hangover may believe they are no longer drunk because they have had coffee.

Dr Gould added: 'All evidence points to serious risks associated with caffeine-alcohol combinations.'

The scientists published their study in the journal Behavioural Neuroscience, and plan to extend their research to humans.

DM