Print
Sep 20, 2008 12:16 pm US/Eastern
MillerCoors Halts Debut Of Alcoholic Energy Drink
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Plans are to sell the new MillerCoors energy drink, which consists of both caffeine and alcohol, are on hold after attorney generals cited health concerns this week.
Alcoholic energy drinks, or AEDs, are popular drinks among the college crowd, but earlier this week attorneys generals in 25 states, including Massachusetts, targeted them as dangerous, citing health risks to young drinkers.
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 generals sent a letter to MillerCoors, the maker of the Sparks line of AEDs Wednesday. MillerCoors was about to debut its latest Sparks drink, Sparks Red, which will contain 8 percent alcohol. The company has since decided to wait while it talks with the AGs.
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.
The AGs' request for MillerCoors to hold off production of the drink carries 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 was scheduled to hit the market next month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
