FDA BAN ON THE CONTROVERSIAL ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

FDA Ban On The Controversial Alcoholic Drinks

George Sirtak

November 18, 2010

English 101 - 071

Essay#4 Final Exam FDA Ban On The Controversial Alcoholic Drinks

Thesis Statement

What would you say about the FDA banning a product just because it has caffeine? Well, several beverage companies are adding caffeine to alcohol; some drinks have up to 200 grams of caffeine per drink. The FDA claims alcohol mixed with caffeine is unsafe. Companies such as Phusion say it is safe and harmless.

Introduction

The FDA is calling in the troops to round up manufacturers who have added caffeine to some of their alcoholic beverages; and have implemented a ban on caffeine to all alcoholic drinks that stops the manufacturing immediately. Eventually, any beer manufactured with caffeine on store shelves will eventually phase out, but it will take some time before these products are removed completely.

FDA and Alchoholic Drinks

The FDA sights these caffeinated alcoholic drinks could present a huge problem if people are unaware of their sobriety, and could lead to more automobile and alcohol poisoning deaths. Should the FDA regulate caffeine in any liquid beverage whether or not alcohol is in it? Some so called experts with the FDA are saying caffeine in alcoholic drinks can disguise negative effects alcohol has on individuals, and could increase binge drinking and extreme intoxication. Being unaware of how intoxicated a person may become could result into a negative outcome. The effects that caffeine has on people could allow someone extended energy they normally would not have, enabling them to consume double the amount of alcohol a person can intake. Some college students have reported blackouts after drinking one of these beverages. Supposedly, the drinks have been measured to having as much as six cans of beer and 12 cups of coffee per serving can, considering these beverages alcoholic energy drinks. Information found on fastcompany.com states Four Loko cans are 23 ounce, 12% alcohol-by-volume malt beverage with 135-miligrams of caffeine.

Some of the beverage manufacturers, Phusion, and Charge claim that there is no scientific proof the drinks are in any way harm to anyone. There is caffeine in most sodas, coffees, latte's, Irish coffees, rum mixed with coke, and many other drinks. Those drinks are not regulated or taken off the shelf, so singling out the energy drink manufacturing companies is unfair. There is no scientific proof manufacturing drinks combining alcohol and caffeine is detrimental to ...