FDA Asks for Proof of Safety from makers of Alcoholic Energy Drinks December 17
Evil Eye, Max Fury and Slingshot Party Gel, alcoholic energy drinks have quickly become popular among younger drinkers prompting the Food and Drug Administration ask for proof that the combination of alcohol and caffeine is safe for those who drink it. The combination of the two has never been approved by the FDA and so the organization was asked to check into the products to verify their safety.
A task force that asked the FDA to become involved feels that the caffeine masks the presence of alcohol and could make it more difficult to maintain awareness of the level of alcohol that is consumed by those who drink it, giving rise to higher levels of drunk driving and other destructive behavior by users.
When the FDA hasn’t tested the safety of a product it becomes the company that produces the products responsibility to test and verify the safety of that product. The FDA is asking for verification of why the combination is considered safe and how that has been proven by these companies. If the FDA feels that there is anything to indicate the combination could be unsafe they’ll ask the products to be removed from the market. The companies who produce these beverages are being given 30 days to respond the FDA’s request. The combination is thought to have come about because of the popularity of combining Red Bull energy drinks with liquor.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. and MillerCoors stopped making similar products last year after the task force made an investigation. Two of the 27 companies being asked to submit evidence have already written letter to the effect that they’ve ceased making the products.
Tags: Alcohol, alcoholic energy drinks, energy drink, FDA