Hartford, Conn. – Beverage companies that sell alcoholic energy drinks were harshly criticized Tuesday by more than two dozen state attorneys general who want federal officials to examine the ingredients and marketing of the drinks they say are aimed at underage customers.
In a letter to John Manfreda, the administrator of the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the attorneys general of 28 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam say aggressive – and possibly fraudulent – marketing of energy drinks mixing alcohol and caffeine targets teenagers and young adults who buy nonalcoholic energy drinks.
“Nonalcoholic energy drinks are very popular with today’s youth,” Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers said. “Beverage companies are unconscionably appealing to young drinkers with claims about the stimulating properties of alcoholic energy drinks.”
The attorneys general singled out Miller Brewing Co. for Sparks and Sparks Plus, Anheuser-Busch for Bud Extra and Charge Beverages of Portland for its Liquid Charge and Liquid Core drinks.
Anheuser-Busch vice president Francine Katz said the attorneys general should focus on restricting youth access to alcohol. The federal government already approved the Bud Extra labeling, she said.
“This product is simply a malt beverage that contains caffeine and is clearly marked as containing alcohol,” Katz said. “In fact, Bud Extra has less caffeine than a 12-ounce Starbucks coffee.”
