Transcript Alcoholic Energy Drinks - Cobb Alcohol Taskforce

Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Cobb Alcohol Taskforce
Report & Discussion
11/9/10
Let’s Talk About

What alcoholic energy drinks are

Public health & safety concerns

Alcohol industry position

Government regulatory authority

Local action
Alcoholic energy drinks are…

Canned drinks w/high alcohol content &
stimulants (caffeine, guarana &/or other)

Widely popular with teens and youth

Exploding in alcohol market since 2006
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Causing serious public health problems
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In the news recently
Show Media Clip Here

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/hea
lth/2010/10/26/nr.alcoholic.energy.drink.c
nn?hpt=C2

Find additional resources at this link…
http://www.marininstitute.org/site/campa
igns/alcoholic-energy-drinks.html
Health & safety concerns…

Stimulants mask intoxicating effects of
alcohol; leading to increased risk-taking

Risks are particularly acute for youth &
inexperienced drinkers

Increases in overdose reports from poison
centers across the country

No research on long term effects of
combining a stimulant & depressant
Alcohol industry position…

No different than mixing alcohol & Red Bull in
bars

Nonalcoholic energy drinks $3.2 billion in
sales in 2006, fueled expansion of market to
include alcohol

Grassroots marketing is critical to energy
drink promotions (with & w/o alcohol)

Two largest manufacturers cease production
in 2008; 50 new manufacturers pop up
Government authorities…

U.S. Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), regulates
alcohol products

Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
regulates nonalcoholic energy drinks

Federal Trade Commission (FTC), investigates
unfair business practices or misleading
advertising claims

Government oversight of risks to public
health & safety is currently weak
Talk Back

What do YOU see?

What can/should WE do?

Examples of what OTHERS are doing…
◦ In keeping with taskforce enforcement, policy and
education goals...
◦ MLCC ban sales of products in Michigan
◦ PLCB asks beverage distributors to stop carrying
products
◦ College presidents ban products on campus
◦ State governors & attorney generals work on bans
◦ Retailers opt to pull products from shelves
◦ Advocates write letters demanding government action