Miller/Coors doesn't want you awake when you drink!

[mongo]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-millercoors-sparks-beer-caffeine-dec18,0,6201028.story

MillerCoors said Thursday it has agreed to stop making beverages that combine beer with caffeine and other stimulants, after coming under fire from public officials in several states.

Attorneys general from up to 25 states, including Illinois, have criticized the brewing company for its Sparks beverages, saying high caffeine levels in those high-alcohol brews can mask intoxication.

MillerCoors, which is moving its headquarters to Chicago next year, agreed to reformulate Sparks, removing caffeine and other stimulants. The company also agreed not to produce caffeinated alcoholic beverages in the future.

In February, several attorneys general, including Illinois' Lisa Madigan, subpoenaed Miller and Anheuser-Busch, the nation's biggest beer maker, seeking information about energy-alcohol drinks. Both companies reportedly complied, and in June Anheuser-Busch said it would remove caffeine and other stimulants from its Tilt and Bud Extra.

In September, MillerCoors agreed to delay the planned launch of Sparks Red, which would contain 8 percent alcohol. But it continued to produce Sparks original and Sparks Plus , which contain 6 and 7 percent alcohol, respectively. Most conventional beers have a 4 to 5 percent alcohol content.

Energy-alcohol drinks "look and taste like popular non-alcoholic energy drinks," Maine Atty. Gen. Steve Rowe said in a press release. "They're popular with young people who wrongly believe that the stimulating effects of caffeine will counteract the intoxicating effects of alcohol."

The attorneys general have also slammed MillerCoors for aggressive Sparks marketing campaigns that they say target youth.

MillerCoors, in a statement, disputed such claims, saying Sparks has been marketed only to legal drinking age consumers. Still, the company has agreed to certain changes in the marketing of Sparks, changes welcomed by the attorneys general.

The company also agreed to pay $550,000 to the attorneys general for the cost of their investigation. MillerCoors said in a press release that the agreement with the attorneys general contained no finding that the company had engaged in any unlawful behavior.

"As a responsible company, we are always willing to listen to societal partners and consider changes to our business to reinforce our commitment to alcohol responsibility," MillerCoors President Tom Long said in a press release.

Hybrid beer-energy drinks have been strong sellers, and Sparks is the category's leader. Still, Beer Marketers Insights, a trade publication, has estimated that Sparks made up only about 1 percent of Miller's production last year.

i hate this shit now, but as an undergrad, it was a cheap, easy, fun way to get fucked up and stay wired.

[BIG PIZZLE]

If I want caffine in my beer I'll do cocaine.

[Morfin]

More governmental bullshit, assuming that all drinkers are stupid and need to be babied. Now that the AGs have taken care of caffeine-laced alcoholic drinks because they may mask the depressing effects of intoxication, are they now going to stop the sale of Red Bull et al. because they mask drowsiness, leading to more car accidents?

[mongo]

and it seems to me, that kids that liked that shit, will just spike their redbull w/ vodka now.

[Morfin]

I thought that is what they are already drinking. I need help here. Someone half my age tell me what is happening in bars. I've forgotten, through senility and alcohol-induced brain damage what happens in bars.

[Nature's Folly]

If I want caffine in my beer I'll do cocaine.

Man i miss coke, its been awhile since i've had some.

[Jatoza]

I always get a stomach ache when I drink Sparks anyway. Never with regular energy drinks, or with drinking booze too fast, just with drinking sparks. Fuck sparks. Conversely, I like getting drunk and staying awake, so I think I'll go buy a sparks now...

[the creeps]

and it seems to me, that kids that liked that shit, will just spike their redbull w/ vodka now.
you could do that. but sparks is cheap. a bottle of good vodka is like is around 15 or 20 bucks. and each can for red bull is like 2 bucks and you only get 8 ounces.

sparks, last time i looked, was around 2 bucks a can.

[taters]

Fucking stupid, because you can do the same thing with a red bull after every 3 drinks.

[POO POO CANNON]

If Strongbow isn't available,

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w278/talesfromthedadside/0710_Oct/tds_rockstar.jpg

ftw.

[Okie Medicvet]

I like the idea of stronger beer, but not really into the caffeine as I have to stay away from it, just one dr. pepper and I have trouble getting to sleep. Drank a full pot of coffee once and was up for four days, and it was just the caffeine.

It's bullshit though that companies are told what they can and can't have in their products.

[ADD]

So Sparks now still sucks, but now is completely worthless? Lame.

[Skybase]

It's bullshit though that companies are told what they can and can't have in their products.

coca-Cola should re-introduce cocaine!

[Whiffleball]

It's bullshit though that companies are told what they can and can't have in their products.

I know the article focuses on the caffeine masking drunkenness, but really, I think what stirs the pot is the concern that these products appeal to and are (allegedly) intended for young people.

They said the same thing about Zima, Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade. But I don't think that every alcoholic drink should have to taste strong and bitter, as if that is what is keeping underage kids from drinking. If you really want to hinder underage drinking, keep all the alcoholic drinks in one place and fucking card people who buy them!

[Skybase]

If you really want to hinder underage drinking, keep all the alcoholic drinks in one place and fucking card people who buy them!

I'm pretty sure that most of the alcohol that the underage kids around here get are purchased for them by people who are of age.

[Whiffleball]

I'm pretty sure that most of the alcohol that the underage kids around here get are purchased for them by people who are of age.

True indeed; I never meant to give the impression that is all that is needed to stop underage drinking. Underage drinking, like so many other things, can never be wholly eliminated. It can only be hindered, and that could best be done by actually enforcing the laws rather than attacking every alcohol/tobacco advertising campaign that comes out.

[Hoser]

and it seems to me, that kids that liked that shit, will just spike their redbull w/ vodka now.

Now?? That has been going on forever.


It's bullshit though that companies are told what they can and can't have in their products.

Yeah who needs regulations.

Free the oppressed companies!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skybase]

True indeed; I never meant to give the impression that is all that is needed to stop underage drinking. Underage drinking, like so many other things, can never be wholly eliminated. It can only be hindered, and that could best be done by actually enforcing the laws rather than attacking every alcohol/tobacco advertising campaign that comes out.


Very true, and I believe this needs to be carried out to the fullest in bars. I see/hear of WAY too many underage drinkers in establishments. That's a pretty simple one to fix.

And, if Licenses would be coded (if even not visually, but electronically. . to be scanned before serving) this could also help keep people who have been convicted of so many DUIs etc from continuing to drink when the law has demanded that they not. (at least being served)

Should just simply be part of getting/maintaining your lliquor license.

[Hoser]

And, if Licenses would be coded (if even not visually, but electronically. . to be scanned before serving) this could also help keep people who have been convicted of so many DUIs etc from continuing to drink when the law has demanded that they not. (at least being served)



They are, well atleast in Canada they are. Many bars have scanners instead of some $10 an hour bouncer who doesn't give a fuck and just wants to beat people up, looking at ID's.

One thing I never got over is the fact that you guys still have a 21 drinking age. I even think our 19 is too high. Sure people will drink when they are underage still, but when they become of age they go nuts and drink like crazy. Places that have a younger drinking age (many European countries) seem the have it under control a lot more then US or Canada do. When kids grow up with wine and beer, when they finally become of age they don't go on a binge and drink like crazy. Yes I know some people will still do it, but it isn't putting the drinks up on a pedestal, they are just a normal part of life and not that big of a deal.

[Whiffleball]

One thing I never got over is the fact that you guys still have a 21 drinking age. I even think our 19 is too high. Sure people will drink when they are underage still, but when they become of age they go nuts and drink like crazy. Places that have a younger drinking age (many European countries) seem the have it under control a lot more then US or Canada do. When kids grow up with wine and beer, when they finally become of age they don't go on a binge and drink like crazy. Yes I know some people will still do it, but it isn't putting the drinks up on a pedestal, they are just a normal part of life and not that big of a deal.

I think it's really because kids go to college and they go off the deep end. They just don't know how to drink responsibly. It'd probably be best if the drinking age was lowered to 18 or even 16 and parents were encouraged to drink with their kids, much like how parents are encouraged to teach their kids to drive. The kids who learn how to drive on backroads in their early teens with their Dad turn out to be great drivers; I didn't drive regularly until I went to college and I was a terrible driver.

[Skybase]

I agree with both of these statements, however I don't really see it happening in the US. Parents would throw fits, and we'd see insane increases in fatalities and problems for a number of years while people took advantage of this.

(similar to what we saw here in Montana when the speed limit was revoked for a short time. . .somewhat)

However TOO young, or too casual a policy as well and I think we'd see ourselves with a lot more drunks than we already have (a la France, etc)

But after the peak of occurances I think there's the POSSIBILITY of a more responsible drinking peoples.

[Hoser]

I agree with both of these statements, however I don't really see it happening in the US. Parents would throw fits, and we'd see insane increases in fatalities and problems for a number of years while people took advantage of this.

(similar to what we saw here in Montana when the speed limit was revoked for a short time. . .somewhat)

However TOO young, or too casual a policy as well and I think we'd see ourselves with a lot more drunks than we already have (a la France, etc)

But after the peak of occurances I think there's the POSSIBILITY of a more responsible drinking peoples.

I agree, people are stupid, and if it went from 21 to 16 there are a lot of dumb people who would drink themselves into a coma. if it was ot ever happen it would have to be a slow steady drop in age. Move it down to 19, then a couple years later 18 and so on and so fourth.

And drunks will be drunks no matter what age they start. Do you think if Marcus didnt start drinking until 25 that he would be a model citizen and sober more often then not?

[Skybase]

yea well that's Marcus. If you teach a monkey sign language at the age of 2, it's still a fucking monkey. ;)