Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


21

FDA Demands Safety Data on Energy Drinks With Alcohol

Companies have 30 days to comply

Share

(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 Raw Tea, an alcoholic energy drink, is pictured.   (Smirnoff)
Wide Eye, an alcoholic energy drink, is pictured.
Wide Eye, an alcoholic energy drink, is pictured.   (Constellation Brands)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
21 comments
VIEWING:
 
Jayster999
Nov 13, 09 6:26 PM CST
My daughter was complaining because the clerk at the corner store wouldn't sell her one (company policy says you have to be 17). GOOD! They need to set an age limit. These drinks are stimulants above and beyond caffeine and potentially dangerous. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
mehrheit
Nov 13, 09 7:37 PM CST
Where is this corner store, Jay? I bet your local high school kids (and local LEOs, for that matter) would be mighty interested to find out where they can buy Smirnoff Raw Tea at 17.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
AmandaT
Nov 13, 09 7:39 PM CST
In this instance, the FDA is referring to energy drinks that contain alcohol, not the regular energy drinks. You need to be 21 to purchase the drinks this article is referring to.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
Nov 14, 09 4:59 PM CST
You'd best be addressing your poor parenting skills and drop your pathetic political views and commentary here.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
WelcomeTo313
Nov 13, 09 6:31 PM CST
But what will college girls drink if these sugary alcohols get pulled Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1

View all 21 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

6 Stories

 Caffeinated Booze 
 Prompts State Probes 

AGs said to be concerned over deceptive marketing

Jul 17, 09 1:01 PM CDT
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
advertising • alcohol • marketing • drink • caffeine • energy drink • MillerCoors • 7 Eleven • false advertising • attorney general • Anheuser-Busch • Joose • Four Loko

 Beer Giant Kills 
 Caffeine, Alcohol Combo 

MillerCoors takes boost out of energy beer

Dec 19, 08 6:43 AM CST
(Newser) - Beer giant MillerCoors has agreed to snuff out its controversial Sparks line of high-alcohol, high-caffeine drinks. Attorneys general in 25 states complained the stimulant dangerously masks intoxication and accused the company of marketing the beverages to teenagers, the Chicago Tribune reports. Anheuser-Busch has already agreed to remove caffeine from Tilt... More »

MORE ABOUT:
alcohol • caffeine • MillerCoors • Tilt • Bud Extra • Sparks • Anheuser-Busch

Marketing of Energy Drinks Under Scrutiny

Authorities wondering if beer makers are targeting kids with caffeinated booze

Feb 21, 08 8:56 AM CST
(Newser) - Big beer companies are facing state-led investigations into whether they're marketing caffeinated alcohol products to underage drinkers, the Wall Street Journal reports. Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing both make such beverages, but insist that "We responsibly market our products to legal drinking-age consumers," a Miller spokesman tells the Journal. More »

MORE ABOUT:
alcohol • caffeine • drinking • energy drink • Andrew Cuomo • Miller Brewing • Tilt • Bud Extra • Sparks • Anheuser-Busch • underage drinking

6 Stories


Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

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

from our news partners