Alcohol

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned four small brewing companies that the caffeine added to their malt alcoholic beverages is an "unsafe food additive" and said that further action, including seizure of their products, is possible under federal law.

The Associated Press reports that teens who text 120 times a day or more are more likely to have had sex or use alcohol and drugs than kids who don't send as many messages, according to new research by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

Coalitions have been at the forefront of the alcopop and alcoholic energy drink issue for several years, from being the "eyes and ears" in the community to educating the media, and helping to advance policy. Several alcoholic energy drinks from small and large distributors have been on coalitions' radars and have been removed from store shelves. Two years ago, coalitions helped convince industry goliaths Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors to drop premixed, sweetened alcohol energy drinks from their product lines. Last week, the more than year-long efforts of 50 coalitions of youth and adults helped ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks in Michigan. In addition, high caffeine alcoholic energy drinks, like the ones that sickened Central Washington University students last month, have been banned in Washington state. The state Liquor Control Board adopted that rule Wednesday morning. It takes effect Nov. 18.
 

The Associated Press this week reported that there are new concerns about energy drinks produced by a Chicago-based company that combine high levels of caffeine with alcohol. The Food and Drug Administration began investigating these types of beverages a year ago, but a recent Washington state college party is renewing questions about their safety.

Young Marines count their reps when working out; they count their calories; they count their cell phone minutes, and now they're being asked by a newly-formed coalition to count their alcoholic beverages.

The formal invitations were mailed. The vivid gowns altered. The tuxedos rented. The venue reserved. The food and cake ordered. The bouquets arranged. The play list coordinated. The hair and makeup fixed to perfection. The guest of honor nervously trying to remember her waltz steps. Si, this quinceañera is about to debut.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for an end to all tobacco ads, limits on alcohol and prescription drug ads, and for the entertainment industry to stop glamorizing smoking and drinking, Join Together reported.

More than one in four high school students and adults ages 18 to 34 engaged in binge drinking during the past month, according to the findings from a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BBC News recently reported on new research by Aston University, which explored a new way to help young people control their drinking.

To help further efforts to curb underage drinking throughout the country, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) introduced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to reauthorize and bolster federal underage drinking prevention programs under the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act.

Twenty percent of American drivers have gotten behind the wheel within two hours of drinking, and 8 percent have driven when they considered themselves drunk, Join Together reports.

Researchers at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry say a personality-based intervention for substance abuse that was delivered by teachers was successful in reducing drinking rates, particularly binge drinking, among adolescents.

All states and territories have made it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. Despite these laws, nearly 12,000 people nationwide during 2008 were killed in crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with BACs of .08 or higher. That would be equal to about 30 jumbo jets crashing each year.

Congressmen Jack Kingston and Gene Taylor introduced H.R. Bill 5958, which would allow military personnel who are 18 and on active duty to purchase and drink beer and wine at certain locations on military installations. CADCA sent a letter to Congressmen Kingston and Taylor expressing its concerns with the bill and urged them to reconsider moving forward with this legislation.