COLUMBUS (TDB) -- Ohio was among several states that challenged the beverage industry for marketing alcohol-laced caffeinated energy drinks to young people. Today, St. Louis-based brewing giant Anheuser-Busch made a deal with the attorney generals and said it will no longer produce "Tilt," "Bud Extra," or any other alcoholic energy drinks. Marc Dann was in at the start of the investigation -- he wasn't widely seen as a rat yet -- but didn't last in office to the end. And nobody in the Ohio AG's office even bothered to put up a press release June 26 to take note of Anheuser-Busch's surrender.
In New York, Democrat Andrew Cuomo was spreading the news:
"Drinking is not a sport, a race, or an endurance test. Adding alcohol to energy drinks sends exactly the wrong message about responsible drinking, most especially to young people. This agreement keeps these dangerous products off our shelves and makes it clear that targeting underage consumers with advertisements for alcohol will not be tolerated."
According to the AGs who challenged the beverage makers, the caffeinated alcoholic drinks taste and resemble popular non-alcoholic drinks. The AGs contend the drinks have caught on "because aggressive marketing campaigns reinforce the common misconception that the caffeine in the drinks will counteract the effects of the alcohol."
-posted by Matt N.
ReplyDeletePhew, I feel safer now. Thank you, Marc Dann.
I always preferred by Bud to be mixed with water and hops anyhow. Marc Dann stood up for the beer drinkers of America. And I guess several were on his top staff, too, when he was the AG. Mr. Dann, this Bud's for you.
ReplyDeleteIf Budweiser caved I guarantee you it was as much to do with weak sales as with any pressure. If Tilt was a big seller, they'd keep it on the market.
ReplyDelete