Firstly, I have taken/take 5 hour energy (not often occasionally on weekends) and it DOES really work as far as giving you energy. I assume it's more healthy than large Monster/Rockstar energy drinks, but is it really NOT bad for you?
My second question is about diet soda. Is diet pop (in moderation, like to chase shots when drinking on weekends) really that bad for you? It has 0 calories, but I'm not sure what else is in it. Some people even say diet pop is worse then normal pop, which just seems ridiculous. If someone could enlighten me on this topic that would be great.
Speaking strictly for proper tissue loss, and assuming you have (no adverse reaction to artificial sweeteners), diet soda is fine and will "fit within the perimeters required for tissue loss", not necessarily speaking to the health debate/argument. Moderation is a key factor here.
The same with Energy Drinks. If you choose to drink these, then you must consider some of their nutritional properties and how this "fits" within the requirement toward your personal goal (again, the health argument/debate being left out). Some can be up near 200 calories plus. While some of the SF/low carbohydrate varieties, are 10-20 calories per serving (and usually there are two servings). These have a very high amount of caffeine, and an exaggerated amount of other nutrients/micro nutrients, and can be unhealthy if consumed in excess (dependent on what this excess is), and how your body processes these sorts of amounts over time: which can be variable per person. Moderation is key.
And, I agree with Hoss.
Alcohol can be very complicated subject matter with people. But no matter the complication, the truth will remain the same.
Alcohol carries calories which can absolutely ruin a person dieting to lose tissue (dependent on what they ate during the day, and other factors), and this
"can be" just the beginning of the sorrows, cause alcohol is processed much differently as compared to other liquids, and just simply does "things" contradictory to a persons goal when consumed in excess (depending on what this excess is).
Alcohol.......can be......a personal disaster for some people with personal goals.
And,
this is just the beginning of your sorrows toward your personal goal.
The "type" of calories in this hypothetical environment
DO MATTER. Why? Because the over-consumption of alcohol causes many organs in your body--to "shift focus" to a: "intoxicating invader", and it has no choice but to deal with it. Your liver is doing
dead lifts in detoxifying your blood, and your kidney's are performing
back-squats in filtering, and so on and so forth with physiological stresses. You become dehydrated (maybe....even sick, with nausea, and vomiting). You may drink boat-loads of water in the process. To put this simply, your body isn't necessarily in the "mood" for fat loss at this time, or in some cases improving another goal perimeter.
And (on the flip side), in this position, I don't think it has muscle growth on its agenda of primary importance at this time.
In addition, alcohol is a "great" dehydrator when consumed in excess, which is another negativity in muscle growth. A lot of variable factors can come into play (such as how frequent the excessive drinking happens, moderation, food consumption, etc).
I could go on with the excess negatives, but will keep it short.
Moderation is key here......and if you choose to drink, and have a personal goal........either fit it in....appropriately and healthy.....or......
If it doesn't fit. You must acquit: Get rid of it. 
If you do not, and choose to drink anyway, and it affects your goal in some negative fashion, then you are drinking in self poured.............wine.
Best wishes,
Chillen
