U.S. Senators Tell FDA Alcoholic Energy Drinks Unsafe

The Marin Institute reported this week that Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have joined forces in a recent letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration calling on the agency to make public its findings from an investigation into possible health risks posed by energy drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine.
 

The senators also stated "alcoholic energy drinks appear to be marketed to underage teens, misleading parents and law enforcement by designing labels and containers so the products resemble non-alcoholic energy drinks." The senators want the FDA to complete its investigation and issue a report of the findings to the public.

Last November, the FDA announced it was investigating the safety and legality of alcoholic energy drinks. It sent letters to nearly 30 manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks (also known as caffeinated alcoholic beverages) demanding that these manufacturers produce evidence within 30 days that their products were safe and indicated that the FDA would take appropriate regulatory action, including possible product seizures if these manufacturers could not could not provide adequate proof of safety. However, to date, no further action has been taken by FDA, which makes the senators’ letter all the more important, according to the Marin Institute.

"The style and promotion of these products is extremely troubling," Schumer wrote to the FTC. "Frankly, it looks to me as if manufacturers are trying to mislead adults and business owners who sell these products, while at the same time actively courting underage drinkers. This type of marketing is, at minimum, grossly irresponsible."