Orshe

It looks like the FDA could ban drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine. If that happens, it’ll be the continuation of a couple trends: The agency’s recent scrutiny of food companies, and a push by some activists and state officials against alcoholic energy drinks.

The FDA has sent letters to about 30 companies noting that it “has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages.” The letters also warn that if the companies don’t explain within a month why it’s legal to sell caffeinated alcoholic beverages, the agency will “take appropriate action to ensure that these products are removed from the marketplace.”

Here’s a statement the agency put out today, explaining the regulatory details; here’s one of the letters; here’s the list of companies that got letters from the FDA.

Some big players — we’re talking to you, MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch — got out of the business of selling caffeinated alcoholic drinks last year. Those moves came after several state attorneys general raised concerns about the drinks, which are reportedly popular among (and marketed to) the young people of today, and which some studies have suggested are linked to risky behaviors.

Of course, if selling packaged drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine is somewhat new, mixing drinks that combine the two is not. And the letters the FDA sent out today apply only to the pre-pacakged combos. Whatever the agency does, it shouldn’t have any effect on drinkers who mix rum and Coke or Red Bull and vodka.

Associated Press photo of Sparks. MillerCoors agreed last year to remove caffeine from the drink.

Go here to see the original:
Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks Are Dead. (Long Live … )