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Florida Sting Shows Lower Compliance Rate for Selling Alcoholic Energy Drinks to Minors

News Briefs - News Briefs

Written by Theresa Dattolico

Thursday, 29 May 2008

A Florida sting exposed the lack of compliance by many stores across the state that are selling alcoholic drinks, such as Miller Brewing Company’s Sparks or Anheuser-Busch’s’ Bud Extra, which contain caffeine or other stimulants. These products have been on the market for some time and the companies promoting them have recently come under question as to whether or not these products are aimed at a younger audience. A state-wide survey of alcoholic energy drink sales to underage consumers was carried out in Florida, exposing the compliance rate of many stores across the state.

"Operation Cocktail for Disaster," as it was called, found the compliance rate for sales of alcoholic energy drinks was lower than that for sales of regular alcoholic beverages. The normal compliance rate for alcoholic beverages in Florida is 86 percent, the sting found a 10 percent drop of compliance with the alcoholic energy drinks, which was down to 76 percent. Pensacola holds the highest rate at 94 percent compliance; Miami was the lowest at 38 percent. There were 173 arrests made from the 932 stores investigated.

The controversy over the alcoholic energy drinks stems from the dangers these types of drink hold. The mix of alcohol and stimulants can have very dangerous side effects in high does. The recent expansion of the non-alcoholic energy drink market, especially within the teen and young adult circles, also raises questions and concerns about who the drinks are marketed to. There is a fear that young, underage consumers will move from soda to energy drinks to alcoholic energy drinks, and that many of these young people do not understand the risk associated with them.