FDA to investigate alcoholic energy drinks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at the request of attorneys general from 18 states including Utah, has agreed to investigate the practice of adding alcohol to energy drinks.

The move was applauded Wednesday by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, who joined 17 of his colleagues in asking the FDA to check into the danger of alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine and other stimulants.

"This is a safety issue and we are asking the FDA to act quickly to protect consumers," Shurtleff said. "Most of the ads for alcoholic energy drinks are aimed at young people and all of the research indicates these drinks put young people at great risk."

Shurtleff is the co-chairman of the Youth Access to Alcohol Task Force of the National Association of Attorneys General. In a Sept. 21 letter, the task force asked the FDA to take action, or at least seek information from the manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages.

Scientists and medical professionals, in a supporting letter to the FDA, offered research that found the use of caffeine and other stimulants as additives to alcoholic beverages poses serious public health and safety risks. The recent studies confirm that caffeine appears to mask, but not reduce, the intoxicating effects of alcohol, which may lead to increased risk-taking and other serious alcohol-related problems such as traffic accidents, violence, sexual assault and suicide.

The FDA responded to the letters Friday, requesting nearly 30 manufacturers to show that the beverages are "generally recognized as safe" or otherwise lawful under agency regulations. The FDA has given the manufacturers 30 days to submit the requested information.

In 2008, Shurtleff and 12 other attorneys general initiated investigations of the two leading manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks: MillerCoors Brewing and Anheuser-Busch Inc. The investigations concluded with each company agreeing to cease production of caffeinated alcoholic beverages altogether. However, Shurtleff said other manufacturers have stepped in to fill the void with products packaged in larger volume containers and containing a higher percentage of alcohol.