Sep 17, 2008 9:36 pm US/Eastern
Alcohol Energy Drinks Spark Concern For Students
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Alcoholic energy drinks, or AEDs, are popular drinks among the college crowd, but now attorneys general in 25 states are targeting them as dangerous.
AEDs are a potent combination of
alcohol and caffeine. Some have roughly the
alcohol content of a beer, but others can have twice that amount along with a dose of caffeine.
The
attorneys general sent a letter to MillerCoors, the maker of the Sparks line of AED's Wednesday. MillerCoors is about to debut its latest Sparks drink, Sparks Red, which will contain 8 percent alcohol. The AG's are asking the company to reconsider.
"You have to think this kind of product would be very attractive to the college age group, young professionals group or unfortunately to underaged drinkers," said Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, one of the AG's signing the letter.
Doctors have long been concerned about the effects of too much caffeine.
Dr. David Greer, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said although there is no hard data on how this combination can hurt the brain, he is concerned.
"It appears caffeine in different doses may affect the activity of
platelets and make them clump together more, thereby making you more at risk for not only having a stroke, but a blood clot somewhere else in the body," Greer explained.
Young people buying the drink didn't seem too concerned.
"I'm a young kid," said 21-year-old Pat Breen. "I'm sure my body can handle it."
Right now the AG's are only making the request, there is no legal action.
They could, however, investigate the marketing of the drinks to see if it targets kids, much the same as they did when they sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company over Joe Camel.
Peter Marino, spokesperson for MillerCoors released a statement saying, "We have received the letter from the Attorneys General. We will review it and look forward to engaging in dialogue with (them)."
Sparks Red is expected to hit the market next month.
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