STATEHOUSE – A bill to protect consumers from highly caffeinated alcoholic products, authored by State Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland), passed the House today unanimously and now goes to the Senate for further consideration. House Bill (HB) 1299 protects consumers from highly caffeinated alcoholic products by giving the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) the authority to bar alcohol retailers from selling these products if the ATC believes the they pose a significant health risk. Many of these alcoholic beverages are packaged to appeal to young people and often contain large amounts of stimulants, a combination that creates substantial health risks according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Caffeinated alcohol products present a very real danger to people who consume them,” said Rep. Davis. “Because the risks of mixing powerful stimulants with alcohol are not well-known, college students across the nation, according to reports, are ending up in hospital emergency rooms with alcohol poisoning.” The CDC reports 79,000 lives are lost each year to excessive alcohol consumption in the United States. Because caffeine can mask the sensory clues that normally indicate intoxication, consumers of these products may find it difficult to gauge their level of intoxication and are at a higher risk of alcohol poisoning and blacking out. Furthermore, these premixed beverages come in containers ranging in size from 12 ounces to 32 ounces and have an alcohol-by-volume level as high as 12 percent, compared to a beer’s usual 4 to 5 percent. They offer young people a cheap, fast way to become intoxicated. When the House Public Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Davis, held a public hearing on HB 1299, no one opposed the measure. Among the organizations supporting a ban on caffeinated alcoholic beverages were the Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, the Indiana Retail Council, and the Association of Beverage Retailers. “Everyone with a stake in this issue is in agreement. These drinks are marketed toward youth and demand action on our part to avoid more tragic consequences,” said Rep. Davis.
-30- Rep. Davis’ bill to protect from dangerous drinks passes House, 1-30-12.docx |
