U.S. cracks down on alcoholic energy drink

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. food safety watchdog agency Wednesday sent letters to the makers of seven caffeinated alcoholic drinks warning the products are unsafe.

The Food and Drug Administration's warning letters were sent to Charge Beverages Corp., makers of Core High Gravity HG, Core High Gravity HG Orange and Lemon Lime Core Spiked; New Century Brewing Co., LLC, makers of Moonshot; Phusion Projects, LLC, which markets Four Loko; and United Brands Co. Inc., makers of Joose and Max.

The FDA concluded adding caffeine to malt alcohol was unapproved and unsafe and warned the firms they could face a court order in 15 days if they continue to sell the beverages that have become popular among high school and college students.

"FDA does not find support for the claim that the addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is 'generally recognized as safe,' which is the legal standard," said Dr. Joshua M. Sharstein, the FDA's principal deputy commissioner, in a written statement. "To the contrary, there is evidence that the combinations of caffeine and alcohol in these products pose a public health concern."

Four Loko, the best-selling caffeinated alcoholic drink sometimes called "blackout in a can," contains 12 percent alcohol and as much caffeine as in a cup of coffee. Phusion Projects of Chicago said Tuesday it would stop blending caffeine in the drink after students at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J., and Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., ended up in emergency rooms after drinking Four Loko.

Several states moved the ban to products and the Maryland beverage industry agreed Wednesday halt sales of the beverages statewide.

"I want to thank the Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association and the Maryland Beer Wholesalers Association for acting so promptly and so responsibly on what is really a public health issue," said Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot in a statement. "These products are proving to be unpredictable at best and outright dangerous, at worst."