Caffeinated Alcohol Drinks in FDA’s Crosshairs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering the ban of the sale of alcoholic drinks containing caffeine after of a number of college students around the country were hospitalized last month after drinking Four Loko caffeinated alcoholic drink.

Last year, 19 U.S. state attorneys general prompted FDA to sent letters to nearly 30 manufacturers responsible for more than 40 alcoholic energy drinks asking them to prove their products are safe.

Four Loko's main product is a 23.5-ounce drink with 12 percent alcohol - roughly equivalent to drinking five 12-ounce beers. The drink also has about one cup’s worth of coffee, according to the manufacturer.

As reported by just-drinks, FDA has been reviewing the situation for almost 12 months. "It is FDA’s position that these type [caffeinated-alcohol] of beverages are not 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS) and therefore we have concerns about their safety and legality," an FDA spokesperson said.

Many college campuses already have banned alcoholic drinks containing caffeine, and state regulators also are taking a hard look at them. Michigan's Liquor Control Commission on Nov. 4 banned alcoholic energy drinks and ordered manufacturers of the beverages to remove all inventory from the state in within 30 days. Regulators in New York also are considering asking the legislature to give them the power to ban alcoholic energy drinks.