Anheuser-Busch ends sales of alcoholic energy drinks

SACRAMENTO
June 26, 2008 11:15am

Anheuser-Busch Inc. is ending sales of its alcoholic energy drinks, including Tilt and Bud Extra, and says it will not produce any caffeinated alcohol beverages in the future.

“Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewing company in the United States, has taken an important action to protect young people from attractive alcohol advertising and marketing,” says California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. “Other major alcohol manufacturers should follow Anheuser-Busch’s lead and eliminate dangerous combinations of caffeine and alcohol from the marketplace.”

Alcoholic energy drinks are prepackaged beverages that combine alcohol and caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng and other ingredients associated with non-alcoholic energy drinks.

“Although Bud Extra and Tilt met all regulatory requirements, had much less caffeine than a Starbuck’s coffee, and had received all necessary federal and state agency approvals, we are reformulating these products in response to the AG’s concerns,” Francine I. Katz, a spokeswoman for the company.

“We have ceased production of the original caffeinated versions of Bud Extra and Tilt. It may take several weeks for the original versions to sell out at retail accounts, and then the reformulated products will be available for purchase at retail,” she says. “Both Bud Extra and Tilt will continue to be available in different alcohol-by-volume varieties, depending upon state laws.”

Mr. Brown says Anheuser-Busch marketed Bud Extra and Tilt in violation of state consumer protection statues by making misleading health-related statements about allegedly energizing effects of Bud Extra; failing to disclose its effects on consumers, and ignoring potential consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages that are combined with caffeine or other stimulants; and, directing advertisements of Tilt and Bud Extra to consumers under the age of 21.

Anheuser-Busch cooperated during the investigation and agreed to reformulate its products to exclude caffeine, Mr. Brown says.

Other states which joined California in reaching an agreement with Anheuser-Busch include: Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, New York and Ohio.