FDA eliminating caffeine in alcohol?

November 13, 2:02 PMDetroit Substance Abuse ExaminerMichael Velardo

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Detroit Substance Abuse Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

   FDA trying to eliminate manufacturers from adding
   caffeine to alcohol

The FDA wants to eliminate caffeine in alcoholic beverages, and sent letters on November 13, 2009 to some 30 manufacturers asking them how they felt confortable enough adding a substance to alcohol deemed unsafe.

"Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a substance added intentionally to food (such as caffeine in alcoholic beverages) is deemed “unsafe” and is unlawful unless its particular use has been approved by FDA regulation, the substance is subject to a prior sanction, or the substance is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)," says the alert.

Suggesting possible health problems with the addition of caffeine to alcholic beverages, "“The increasing popularity of consumption of caffeinated alcoholic beverages by college students and reports of potential health and safety issues necessitates that we look seriously at the scientific evidence as soon as possible,” said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner of food and drugs."

The FDA has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages, essentially making the manufacturers susceptible to sanctions. Is that the underlying goal, a little money maker for the FDA when they fine the crap out of these companies for not complying?

Alcohol411.info reported, "...scientific research indicates that people who consume caffeine and alcohol may increase their risk of alcohol-related injuries or other problems. A Wake Forest University study published last year found that 24% of college students who drink reported mixing caffeinated beverages and alcohol—such as Red Bull with vodka—in the previous month. The study found that those who did were more likely than someone who drank noncaffeinated alcoholic beverages to experience negative consequences such as an alcohol-related injury, getting into a car with a drunken driver or being taken advantage of sexually."

The FDA is asking that companies producing these alcoholic drinks come up with eivdence, or the rationale used, supported with data and information concluding caffeine is GRAS, or generally regarded as safe.

Of course, a strong case could be made about the difference between someone that is drunk, and one who is a wide-awake drunk from the caffeine. And then you have those that will mix caffeine and alcohol anyway, so the FDA's action is more like lip service than anything else.

Rethinking Drinking

Don't drink and drive people, it's just not worth it

*If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug problem, contact these sites depending on where you live. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland County residents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents). For those residing outside the State of Michigan, contact SAMHSA for assistance.

In the flow...

Follow Crash Test Addict on: Twitter| Facebook| Website

Photo Wikimedia Commons Public Domain

FDA eliminating caffeine in alcohol? by Michael Velardo, aka: Crash Test Addict is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.