This article talks about the newest controversy in caffeine and alcohol mixed drinks. F.D.A commissioner Margaret Hamburg states "drinks appeared to pose a serious public health threat because the caffeine masked the effects of the alcohol, leading to “a state of wide-awake drunk.” This state of mind can lead to many fatal situations and is being banned all together. The F.D.A has given companies up to 15 days to stop adding caffeine to the alcohol drinks or just stop selling in general. This is related to social regulation, ensuring the public’s safety. The regulation of making caffeine and alcohol mixed drinks illegal is to ensure the well being of Americans.
Elizabeth Sziler
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/us/18drinks.html?ref=todayspaper
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While there is no denying that theses drinks are dangerous and bad for one's health, all alcoholic drinks are. Drinking these drinks is no different than drinking large amounts of alcohol alongside an energy drink. If someone elects to get too drunk, they will with or without alcoholic energy drinks. Therefore I think that a warning on the can explaining how many beers one can is equivalent to is sufficient in regualting these drinks.
ReplyDeleteTom Millman
I agree with Tom. People take their own risks when it comes to drinking and should be liable for these risks. As long as there is a warning on the can that states the amount of alcohol and amount of caffeine then the company should not be liable for these people’s actions. People, especially students, get alcohol poisoning every week on alcoholic drinks that do not contain caffeine and the alcohol companies are not held liable.
ReplyDeleteMatt Rister
I think that if government wants these drinks to be gone than they are going about it the right way. But still it is ultimately up to the people themselves. You can stop selling alcoholic beverages with caffeine in them, but then anyone can buy alcohol and add a caffeine beverage to it themselves.THe government can stop the sale of the beverages themselves, but that ultimately will not stop the people from getting what they want.
ReplyDelete-Jordan Goodman
I think the problem with these drinks is that there is not enough warning on them. Those who drink alcoholic beverages, especially students, will not usually pay much attention to health warnings in small print. I think that in order for these alcoholic/energy drinks to stay on the market, a larger warning of the harmful effects that can develop as a result of consumption should be printed on the can. It is important for people to know exactly what they are buying and the health risks involved when buying a product, not after consumption when it is too late. Even though it is not the company's responsibility to make sure that everyone reads the health warnings regardless of what size print it comes in, until the "newness" of the products wear off I think this is definitely the best way to get the message across.
ReplyDeleteKilee Imlay