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Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat from New York, is asking the Federal Trade Commission to delve into the marketing practices of various caffeinated beverage companies, claiming they're marketed specifically to kids and encouraging underage drinking, reports the NY Daily News.
What's alcopop? A portmanteau of alcohol and pop that describes a flavored alcoholic beverage (think Smirnoff Ice)—but certain brands are really going above and beyond to get our little ones excited about pounding down their weight in alcohol.
Take the brand Four Loko: It's a malt beverage that packs as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and, with 12 percent alcohol by volume, about three times as much alcohol as beer, and comes in such refined flavors as blue raspberry, fruit punch, and grape. When's the last time anyone over the legal limit chose a grape-flavored beverage out of the fridge?
There's also Joose, which comes in the flavors Panther and Jungle. We're too old to understand what that even means. According to the Daily News article, the FDA spokesman asked to comment said the agency hasn't yet determined if these drinks are harmful.
Um. Hello. Do high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame clang any bells in your head? Just jump the gun on this one and determine that these drinks are probably not the healthiest for our youngsters.
Image source: Flickr member Brett McBain under Creative Commons
I've caught both my underage kids with joose. it's potent, too.
Some adults of drinking age simply don't like the taste of beer, wine, and liquor. I don't see the problem with a company creating an alcoholic soda. It's not like a 6 pack of the stuff comes with a toy. These products are probably mostly meant for younger people, but that doesn't mean that the company making it is trying to push it on your six-year-old. You don't have to be unerage to enjoy a...+READ
Some adults of drinking age simply don't like the taste of beer, wine, and liquor. I don't see the problem with a company creating an alcoholic soda. It's not like a 6 pack of the stuff comes with a toy. These products are probably mostly meant for younger people, but that doesn't mean that the company making it is trying to push it on your six-year-old. You don't have to be unerage to enjoy a grape flavored drink.-COLLAPSE
It's a good thing there are no more pressing issues for congress to address like unemployment, a collapsing economy, massive debt, 2 ongoing wars and pollution in the gulf. No, busy parents need intervention on a federal level to help raise their kids. Our country is in the best of hands.
So is Schumer going on as a summer replacement for Supernanny? What ever happened to parental control/involvement?
These don't sound too different from the "yummy" cocktails slurped by 20-somethings wearing $400 jeans in trendy bars, except lower in alcohol and cheaper. And without the all-important cachet, of course.