FDA warns makers of alcoholic energy drinks

The FDA has recently issued warning letters to four marketers of caffeinated alcohol drinks, saying the caffeine is an "unsafe food additive." The makers of such energy drinks as Four Loko and Joose, which has a contract to be made here at the City Brewery in La Crosse. A spokesman for the City Brewery said earlier Wednesday it's too early to predict what kind of effect that the FDA's warning might have on the caffeinated alcohol drinks it makes under for other companies. The spokesman, who asked not to be named said, "We will be producintg drinks with or without caffeine." (Para 2) He added, "It's not going to help us, but hopefully it won't hurt us too much." (Para 3)

"Recent publicity about the effects of caffeinated alcohol drinks has increased interested in and sales of Four Loko and Joose," said Art Soell, wine and spirits specialist for La Crosse-area Festival Foods stores.( Para 4)Most of the consumers who purchase these types of beverages are between the ages 21 nad 30. FDA Commissioner, Margeret Hamburg said Wednesday the combination of caffeine and alcohol in the drinks can lead to "a state of wide-awake drunk."(Para 7) Evidence has shown that their consumption has led to alcohol poisoning, car accidents, and assaults, she said. Reports say that the government could eventually seize the product if companies continue to make and market them. The companies have a 15 day deadline to either explain how they will take their products off the market or defend the drinks as safe.

College students have been hospitalized in recent months after consuming the drinks causing increasing pressure by the government to ban these beverages. In response to such incidents, four states - Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma have banned the beverages and other states are considering similar action. Phusion Projects, which manufactures the popular Four Loko, announced late Tuesday that it would reformulate it's drinks to remove the caffeine. Four Loko comes in several varieties, including fruit punch and blue raspberry. A single-serving 23.5-ounce can contains 12 percent alcohol and can be purchased for $2.50, making it comparable to having four beers.

The FDA has also issued warning letters to Charge Beverages Corp., New Century Brewing Co., and United Brands Company Inc. which manufactures Joose. As of Wednesday, a Four Loko Facebook page has more than 41,000 fans, and a similar Joose page has more than 27,000 fans. On four Loko's page many fans mourned the demise of their favorite drink. I personally don't like any of the energy drinks on the market these days. I have tried a few like Sparks, Red Bull, and Nos. My question is then what do you think of the recent FDA's action concerning these caffeinated alcoholic beverages, and do you think that maybe they are over stepping their bounds a bit?

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