Alcohol Justice

Welcome to the archive page for news, resources, and articles related to the Marin Institute Alcoholic Energy Drinks campaign.

Articles, etc.

• Legislature Wants to Ban Red Bull and Vodka, Would Ban Irish Coffee (February 2011)
• As Four Loko Controversy Continues, Lawsuits Pile Up (January 2011)
• Study Finds Energy Drinks Don't Blunt Alcohol's Effects (January 2011)
• Virginia Plant Destroys Alcoholic Energy Drinks (January 2011)
• FDA's Number 2 Leaving Helm Maryland Health Department (January 2011)
• Virginia: Special Agents Make Arrest for Illegal Sale of Four Loko (December 2010) 
• The Party's Over (November 2010)
• Parents Sue Makers of Four Loko After 'Wired' Son Shot Himself (November 2010)
• Alcoholic Energy Drink's Ban Fuels a Buying Binge (November 2010)
• Beer Wholesalers Ready to Enforce Ban of Alcoholic Energy Drinks (November 2010)·
• TTB Circular: Alcohol Beverages Containing Caffeine (November 2010)
• TTB Issues Warning on Sale/Shipment of Alcoholic Energy Drinks (November 2010)
• Advocates Urge State and Local Action on Alcoholic Energy Drinks (November 2010)
• Four Loko Caused Death of 21-year-old Maryland Woman (November 2010) 
• Schumer Keeps Driving the Four Loko Ban-Wagon (November 2010)
• Energy Drinks: Is It Time to Tighten Regulation? (November 2010)
• Fast Company: How Four Loko Sanitized Its Social Media (November 2010
• Four Loko Already Banned in Utah·(October 2010)
• CNN-TV: Push to Ban Alcoholic Energy Drinks (October 2010)
• CBS-TV The Early Show: "Blackout in a Can" (October 2010)
• Caffeine and Alcohol Drink is a Potent Mix for Young (October 2010)
• Doctors Say Alcoholic Energy Drinks Dangerous (October 2010)
• Campus Illnesses Intensify Worries About High-Alcohol Energy Drinks (October 2010)
• Alcoholic Rnergy Drinks, Not Drugs, Sickened 9 University Students (October 2010)
• Alcoholic and Caffeine Drinks: The Next Student Health Problem?·(October 2010)·
• Big Brewers Back Down, Small Alcoholic Energy Drink Makers Thrive (October 2010)
• New Jersey: Ramapo College Bans Alcoholic Energy Drink·(October 2010)
• Fatal Wreck Brings Scrutiny to Alcohol-Energy Drinks like Four Loko (August 2010)
• Alcohol Energy Drink Craze Fueling Concern Among Experts (August 2010)
• U.S. Senators Urge FDA to Take Action on Alcoholic Energy Drinks (August 2010)
• Senators Call on FDA to Rule on Alcoholic Energy Drinks (July 2010)
• Senator Schumer Wants Investigation of Alcoholic Energy Drink Companies (July 2010)
• Sen. Schumer Urges Manufacturers to Stop Marketing Fruity Alcoholic Drinks to Kids (July 2010)
• Mix of Energy Drinks, Alcohol Stirs Up Debate (June 2010)
• Energy Drink or Alcohol? (May 2010)
• Health Canada Strikes Uneasy Regulatory Balance on Alcoholic Energy Drinks (May 2010)
• Virginia: Agents Warn of Alcoholic Energy Drinks (May 2010)
• California Lawmakers Abstain on Key Bill--Again (April 2010)
• Official Vote Tally for AB 1598 by California Assembly GO Committee (April 2010)
• Alcohol/Energy Drink Combo Leads to Higher Intoxication, Driving Risk (April 2010)
• Study Links Alcoholic Energy Drinks to Intoxication, DUIs (February 2010)
• Banning Alcoholic Energy Drinks One State at a Time (February 2010)
• University of Florida Study: Alcohol and Energy Drinks a Dangerous Mix (February 2010)
• United Kingdom: Call to Cut Caffeine in Alcohol (February 2010)
• Banning Alcoholic Energy Drinks One State at a Time (January 2010)
• EU Commission Calls for Ban On Alcoholic Drinks with Caffeine (January 2010)
• WSLCB Requests Bill to Prohibit Alcoholic Energy Drinks (January 2010)
• Marin Institute Commends New FDA Probe (November 2009)
• FDA Requests Proof of Safety of Alcoholic Energy Drinks (November 2009)
• Attorneys General Investigate New Alcoholic Energy Drinks (August 2009)
• Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks Stir Up Legal Concerns (August 2009)
• New Mexico Seeks to Ban Alcoholic Energy Drinks (January 2009)
• MillerCoors to Unplug Sparks (December 2008)
• New Mexico Attorney General Fights Underage Drinking (November 2008)
• Anheuser-Busch Stops Making Energy Drinks, Miller Told to Do Same (June 2008)
• Teen's Death Spotlights Risk of Mixing Energy Drinks, booze (May 2008)
• Caffeine-Alcohol Cocktail Danger (January 2008)

The battle to remove alcoholic energy drinks from all store shelves has found a new ally in The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB), which has submitted a request to the legislature in that state to ban “pre-mixed, energy-enhanced malt beverages,” also known as alcoholic energy drinks. The Washington state legislature will take up House Bill 2804 during its 2010 regular session.

The bill's language is straightforward, and defined in the WSLCB’s press release:

“Under House Bill 2804, a new section that reads ‘Any caffeinated or stimulant-enhanced malt beverage, as defined in RCW 66.04.010, are prohibited for sale in the state of Washington,’ would be added to Revised Code of Washington chapter 66.28. The following description would be added to RCW 66.04.010: ‘Caffeinated or stimulant-enhanced malt beverage’ means a beverage to which is added caffeine or other stimulants including, but not limited to, guarana, ginseng, and taurine, and contains at least one-half of one percent alcohol by volume.”

HB 2804 has bipartisan support and many co-sponsors have signed on in support, but the bill’s primary sponsor, Representative Tami Green, succinctly summed up why there is a need for this bill banning these dangerous products:

“There’s a serious problem when a main contributor to the leading cause of death in teens is disguised as a harmless energy drink,” Green said. “As a mother and grandmother, I’m deeply concerned about the young people affected by this misperception.”

California Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose)  also has sponsored legislation (HB 1598) to "prohibit the import, production, manufacture, distribution, or sale of caffeinated malt beverages." Marin Institute supports these efforts to prohibit alcoholic energy drink products, and provides information, news, and resources on its campaign website that can help you learn what you can do to get them banned in your state.