Marc Dann Would Be Bragging Today: Anheuser-Busch Corks Energy Drink Business

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."

Ohio Atty. Gen. Marc Dann: Joins 29 Others With 'Serious Concerns' Over High-Energy Drinks

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The attorneys general of 29 states and Guam told the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Bureau they have "serious concerns about the formulation of alcoholic beverages that contain caffeiene and other stimulants." Ohio AG Marc Dann signed the August 20, 2007 letter complaining the popular drinks are being sold with aggressive marketing campaigns that overplay the health benefits and downplay potential risks. Young Americans are the targets.

The full-text of the six-page letter is available here (PDF). Anheuser-Busch was singled out for criticism over a product called Bud Extra, which the AG's said is marketed as a stimulant.

"Anheuser-Busch markets this drink (formerly known as 'B-to-the-E') with claims about the product's stimulating effect and its power to enable the consumer to continue to drink more. The Bud Extra Website boasts, 'Bud Extra is infused with more of everything you never knew to expect. It's flavored with ginseng, powered by caffeine and charmed with . . .guarana? Some call the tropical fruit a magical herb: the Guarani Tribe in Brazil believe it is a way to regain strength.' Promotional statements for this beverage include, 'Who's up for staying out all night,' 'Say hell to an endless night of fun,' 'Stay around for every twist of the ride,' and 'You can sleep when you are 30.'"

The AGs said they wanted federal regulators to investigated promotional claims made by numerous alcoholic energy drink makers, not just Bud. And they called on the feds to take enforcement action against any whose health-related claims are misleading. Dann and the other attorney generals said many of the drinks have alcohol content 6% or greater.