Survey reveals that up to 80% of drivers mistake alcoholic beverages for energy drinks and flavored water
At first glance, the cans look harmless. Fruit splashes across the label. Words like “Sun Sips,” “Antioxidant,” and “Cream Pop” lean more toward a juice bar than a liquor shelf. But a new study shows those same cans are causing real confusion for drivers who assume they’re grabbing something non-alcoholic.
A new survey asked 2,000 U.S. drivers to identify 14 drinks based only on their packaging
The results exposed how little faith people can put in what a can looks like.
Only 57% of participants could correctly spot drinks such as White Claw or Twisted Tea as alcoholic.
Vizzy, a 5% hard seltzer, proved the most misleading. 8 in 10 drivers believed it was something else entirely, most often a soda or flavored water. With flavors like Pineapple Mango and packaging that leans on bold fruit illustrations, it consistently fooled consumers.
Other brands were nearly as deceptive.
Four Loko, with up to 14% alcohol by volume, confused 66% of participants despite years of press coverage about its strength
Truly and High Noon Sun Sips each misled more than 60% of drivers, while BuzzBallz tricked 53%. Some thought the “buzz” meant caffeine, not liquor.
The findings reversed for non-alcholic bevvies.
A quarter of drivers believed Liquid Death, a canned water brand, contained alcohol
Another 39% mistook Drip mineral water for an energy drink.
The survey suggests that bold graphics and youth-oriented branding blur the line between what’s safe behind the wheel and what isn’t.
The consequences are not abstract
The survey pointed to cases like a man in North Carolina who routinely drank White Claw on his commute, convinced it was an energy drink. A school bus driver lost a job after making the same mistake with the same brand, believing it was flavored water.
The research comes from Wheelsaway, a junk car price comparison service that launched this year, which partnered with Censuswide.
Wheelsaway’s spokesperson urged drivers to slow down and check labels before buying. The variety of drinks now sold in convenience stores makes it easy to grab the wrong can, and in some cases, that choice can lead directly to impaired driving.
