Utrecht opens probe after scrutiny of Red Bull-linked research

Utrecht University has launched an investigation into its pharmacology research group after media reports alleged that research by one of its professors on the effects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol was influenced by Red Bull’s commercial interests. 

The Dutch university said its faculty of science will set up an independent external committee to investigate the group’s “research culture” and “quality policy” following media reports “concerning a member of staff”.  

The announcement comes after investigations by news outlet The Examination and Dutch magazine De Groene Amsterdammer accused Red Bull of providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to university researchers whose work consistently produced favourable findings about energy drinks. 

The university has not identified the professor, but one of the academics named by the media reports is Joris Verster, an associate professor of pharmacology at Utrecht whose research has focused extensively on the effects of mixing alcohol with energy drinks. 

Verster has authored studies that concluded that mixing energy drinks with alcohol is no riskier than drinking alcohol alone, findings that have been disputed by many independent researchers who say that caffeine can mask perceptions of intoxication and contribute to riskier behaviour. 

According to The Examination, Verster was also among scientists flown to the US by Red Bull to “provide talking points for meetings with government officials who were considering restrictions on energy drinks”. 

On Verster’s publicly available university profile, it says that he has been a scientific adviser or consultant to Red Bull, among other organisations. Those relationships are also disclosed in a number of his published papers.

Times Higher Education contacted Verster and Red Bull for comment. 

“The report in De Groene Amsterdammer has also raised questions for us,” said Alan Hanjalic, the university’s dean of the faculty of science, in a statement. 

“In order to answer these questions properly, we wish to conduct a critical review of the academic culture and research quality policy within the research group in question.

“The investigation will examine whether sufficient attention has been paid to existing internal procedures designed to safeguard a sound academic culture and the quality of research, such as the way in which secondary employment has been handled, transparency regarding funding, and the discussion of potential conflicts of interest.”

seher.asaf@timeshighereducation.com