FDA Demands Safety Data on Energy Drinks With Alcohol

Companies have 30 days to comply

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 13, 2009 6:20 PM CST

(Newser) – The FDA has taken action against companies that make alcoholic energy drinks, giving the firms 30 days to provide evidence to support their claim that caffeine and booze are a safe combination. A group of concerned scientists have said there is no evidence to support the claim that the drinks are safe. "Being wide awake and drunk at the same time increases the risk of engaging in several forms of violent or other high-risk physical behaviors that can cause injury," they said in a statement.

The regulator acted after a request from 18 attorneys general, who asked the agency to investigate the safety of the drinks. The FDA approves caffeine only as an additive in soft drinks, not in alcoholic beverages. The drinks targeted include Constellation Brands’ Wide Eye and Diageo’s Smirnoff Raw Tea; Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors dropped energy drinks that contained alcohol last year, Reuters reports.

Smirnoff Raw Tea, an alcoholic energy drink, is pictured. (Smirnoff)

Wide Eye, an alcoholic energy drink, is pictured. (Constellation Brands)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

Another Sign Rihanna and Chris Brown Might Get Back Together? (Celebuzz)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Did We All Kill Whitney Houston---Or Did We Prolong Her Life? (Slate)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 15 comments

easterner

Nov 14, 2009 12:58 PM CST

Young adults have been mixing the the caffeine energy drinks with alcohol for sometime and will continue to do so.

JoeQ

Nov 14, 2009 12:55 PM CST

They should combine the two top stories on the home page at this moment: Have yourself an alcoholic energy drink and read Newser's New Happy-Hour Six Pack, the day's most popular stories in your in box.

DaytonAve.

Nov 14, 2009 12:31 PM CST

But what will college girls drink if these sugary alcohols get pulled

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

E-Cigarette Explodes in Man's Mouth

Reuters (Source Grid »)

Health

FDA • alcohol • caffeine • energy drink • Smirnoff • Diageo • MillerCoors • Anheuser-Busch • Food and Drug Administration • Constellation Brands • Wide Eye

More Newser Stories

FDA Declares Alcoholic Energy Drinks 'Unsafe'

Federal government may seize them

(NEWSER) - The FDA has declared alcoholic energy drinks unsafe for consumption, and warned companies that the federal government may seize them if they don’t switch to decaf. Regulators have sent warning letters to Charge Beverages, New Century Brewing, United Brands, and Phusion Projects, the makers of Four Loko, Bloomberg reports. The move follows a yearlong investigation into consumer complaints. More»

Four Loko Losing the Caffeine

Makers change recipe ahead of FDA crackdown

(NEWSER) - The embattled makers of Four Loko are changing the recipe of the drink nicknamed "blackout in a can." The alcohol is staying, but the drink will no longer contain caffeine, guarana, and taurine—three of the "Four" in its name. The move comes as the FDA prepares to announce the results of a review of high-caffeine alcoholic drinks , the New York Times notes. Michigan has banned the drink , as has Washington state and numerous communities and campuses around the country. More»

Michigan Bans Four Loko Across State

Other places may follow suit

(NEWSER) - Michigan has banned Four Loko and other caffeinated alcoholic beverages statewide, the Chicago Tribune reports. It's apparently the first state to do so, but politicians and school officials across the country are also taking aim: City councilmen in Chicago proposed a ban this week, Pennsylvania's liquor commission has asked retailers to pull the drinks voluntarily, and the University of Rhode Island became the latest campus to ban the drinks, notes NPR . More»

Calls Brew for Labeling Sneaky Caffeine

Lack of info makes it tough to reduce consumption

(NEWSER) - The popularity of ice creams, yogurts, and even jelly beans with high caffeine levels is causing experts to call for labels listing how much a product contains. Manufacturers aren't currently required to disclose caffeine levels, and advocates for stricter labeling say this makes it difficult for people to cut back on caffeine and for pregnant women to adhere to the FDA's recommended maximum. More»

Caffeinated Booze Prompts State Probes

AGs said to be concerned over deceptive marketing

(NEWSER) - State attorneys general are taking a hard look at increasingly popular caffeinated alcohol beverages amid fears the combination is dangerous and targeted at underage drinkers, the Wall Street Journal reports. The AGs are calling for company records from the makers of Joose and Four Loko. At 7-Eleven, Joose has had faster sales growth than any other alcoholic beverage this year. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

FDA Demands Safety Data on Energy Drinks With Alcohol

Companies have 30 days to comply

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

FDA • alcohol • caffeine • energy drink • Smirnoff • Diageo • MillerCoors • Anheuser-Busch • Food and Drug Administration • Constellation Brands • Wide Eye

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FDA Declares Alcoholic Energy Drinks 'Unsafe'

Federal government may seize them

Four Loko Losing the Caffeine

Makers change recipe ahead of FDA crackdown

Michigan Bans Four Loko Across State

Other places may follow suit

Calls Brew for Labeling Sneaky Caffeine

Lack of info makes it tough to reduce consumption

Caffeinated Booze Prompts State Probes

AGs said to be concerned over deceptive marketing

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

FDA Demands Safety Data on Energy Drinks With Alcohol

Companies have 30 days to comply

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

FDA • alcohol • caffeine • energy drink • Smirnoff • Diageo • MillerCoors • Anheuser-Busch • Food and Drug Administration • Constellation Brands • Wide Eye

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

FDA Declares Alcoholic Energy Drinks 'Unsafe'

Federal government may seize them

Four Loko Losing the Caffeine

Makers change recipe ahead of FDA crackdown

Michigan Bans Four Loko Across State

Other places may follow suit

Calls Brew for Labeling Sneaky Caffeine

Lack of info makes it tough to reduce consumption

Caffeinated Booze Prompts State Probes

AGs said to be concerned over deceptive marketing

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?