MillerCoors in the eye of the storm over new caffeinated alcoholic drink

18 September 2008

Attorney generals from 25 states yesterday asked beverage maker MillerCoors to abandon plans for introducing its new caffeine-infused alcoholic energy drink, Sparks Red, calling it ''a recipe for disaster to teenagers.''

The attorney generals say that by adding caffeine to alcoholic beverages reduces the consumer's sense of intoxication to which teenagers are particulaly vulnerable because of their limited judgment and tendency towards risky behaviour while driving or during other activities.

Such stimulant-laced beer that contains eight per cent alcohol by volume, is higher than its current energy-brew offerings, and is extremely popular amongst younger drinkers but the high level of alcohol content in it also delivers a wide-eyed caffeine punch, which could lead to dangerous behaviour.

The 25 state attorney generals had written a letter asking MillerCoors not to introduce Sparks Red in the market and that they would consider taking actionsuch as filing a lawsuit to restrainthe company, if necessary.

The Centre for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, has already filed a lawsuit in the District of Columbia's superior court, against MillerCoors in an effort to stop the brewer from selling Sparks, which has been targeted at teenagers.

The group wants the court to stop MillerCoors from selling the drink as it is illegally using caffeine, guarana, ginseng and taurine in its range of alcoholic beverages in Sparks Red.