Campaign Blog
Say No to Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Posted by Web Team on November 19, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Attorney General Gansler Says No to Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Just months after taking office, Attorney General Gansler began a campaign to warn consumers of the dangers of alcoholic energy drinks, to stop manufacturers from marketing these products to youth under the age of 21, and ultimately to get these dangerous products off the shelves. As a direct result of these efforts, the FDA today issued warning letters to manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks stating that the caffeine in these alcoholic beverages, including the popular brands Four Loko and Joose, are “unsafe food additives.” The FDA’s warning letters require that the manufacturers take prompt action to correct their violations of federal law, and state that failure to do so may result in enforcement action.
“I am pleased that the FDA has taken the first step in what will ultimately lead to these dangerous products being removed from store shelves once and for all,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Today’s action by the FDA confirms what we have been telling the alcohol industry since the beginning of 2007. These beverages are dangerous. AEDs attract young people who wrongly believe that the caffeine will offset the intoxicating effects of the alcohol. In fact, the caffeine in these products only mask, not offset, alcohol intoxication. I applaud the FDA’s issuance of warning letters rejecting the manufacturers’ unfounded claims that these products are safe.”
AEDs are alcoholic beverages to which caffeine and other stimulants, such as guarana, have been added at the point of manufacture. Packaged in 23.5 ounce cans resembling energy drinks with fruit flavors like fruit punch, lemonade and watermelon, some AEDs like Four Loko contain the alcohol equivalent of five or six beers and the caffeine equivalent of four to five colas or one to two cups of coffee in just one can.
To read more about Attorney General Gansler’s campaign to get these dangerous beverages off the shelves go to http://www.oag.state.md.us/Press/2010/111710.html
blog comments powered by DisqusMeet Doug Gansler
Since taking office, Doug Gansler has distinguished himself by prosecuting polluters of the Chesapeake Bay, protecting consumers from corporate and insurance fraud, safeguarding the public from gangs, and attacking the underbelly of the Internet. More
