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Alcoholic energy drinks linked to wrongful death

The U.S. FDA is expected to announce a ban of beverages that mix alcohol and caffeine.  The announcement was made on November 16 by Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).  
 
The agency's ruling prohibits the use of caffeine as a food additive and will effectively prohibit the sale of controversial alcoholic energy drinks in the United States.  In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plans to notify manufacturers that they are engaged in the potential illegal marketing of unsafe alcoholic drinks.
 
The decision comes after a recent study found that young and underage drinkers who combine alcohol with caffeine are more likely to suffer injury, be the victim of sexual assault, drive while intoxicated, and require medical attention than drinkers who consume caffeine-free beverages.
 
In a separate announcement, the makers of Four Loko have said that they are pulling their caffeinated alcoholic beverages from the market.
 
The company has been named in a  wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the parents of a college student who died after becoming wired and drunk from drinking at least three cans of the energy drink.  In August, an 18-year-old student died from a heart attack after drinking Four Loko and dozens of  across the country have been hospitalized with negative effects of the drink which contains 12 percent alcohol by volume, and is sold in 23.5-ounce cans.
 
Five states have now banned or agreed to stop selling the product.
 
Updated 11-18-2010:  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to four companies on 11-17-2010 for adding caffeine to their malt alcoholic beverages. The letters identify caffeine as an "unsafe food additive" and state that further action, such as seizure of the caffeine-containing products, is possible under federal law.

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