Agents warn of alcoholic energy drinks

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Alcoholic Beverage Control agents train those who serve alcohol to recognize alcohol laws, recognize fake IDs, and to recognize alcoholic beverages.

Special Agent Robert Simmons Jr. presented about a dozen students with pictures of canned beverages and asked, "Brand confusion. Can anybody tell me which brands are alcohol?"

Simmons says what are known as alcoholic energy drinks present a unique challenge for law enforcement and parents. He said he has heard from parents who unknowingly bought the drinks for their own teens.

"On her way home she decided to look at the can and realized it was 9 percent alcohol," Simmons said a mother told him.

A variety of cans Simmons uses in his presentation all appear to be regular energy drinks, but a closer look reveals many of them contain alcohol.

The difference is that labels on the alcoholic energy drinks show their alcohol content; non-alcoholic energy drinks have nutrition labels on the cans.

"You could have a student in school drinking it in class and no one would ask the question," Simmons said.

Some of the drinks have as much as 12 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), which is a standard measure of a beverage's alcoholic content. Doctors warn people who drink them should not put too much stock in the term "alcoholic energy drink."

"They should view it as this is an alcoholic beverage," said Dr. Carl Wenzel with Bon Secours health system. "One of these equals three or four beers... If they are going to drink one of these and think they are going to have energy and stimulation, they are going to have quite the opposite."

Wenzel says the concentration of alcohol will likely outweigh any boost one might get from the stimulants.

"I don't know of any serious athlete or person who needs to be alert, who would go out and drink three or four beers before doing an athletic event or going to an important meeting," Wenzel said.

Terry Drivas, a loss prevention regional manager for 7-Eleven, sat in on the ABC training. He said the company keeps up with the latest products to make sure underage buyers do not have access.

"We are aware of the energy drink-alcohol combinations that are on the market. When you come to a 7-Eleven specifically, we have them segregated with the alcoholic beverages, totally separate from the energy drink portion," Drivas said.

Sarah Rhodes, who also attended the training, took materials on the alcoholic energy drinks with her for her sister. She said her sister will be able to protect her nieces and nephews who range in ages 9 to 16.

"She's going to know what's the difference, energy drinks or alcoholic drinks."

ABC agents stress that it is up to adults to recognize what is on the market, and speak with children about alcohol and caffeine.

"As a parent, a grandparent, I feel responsible that if my child came into my house, I'm going to wonder 'What are you drinking?' And I'm going to look at it," Simmons said.

In November of 2009, the federal Food and Drug Administration announced it would launch an investigation to learn more about safety concerns associated with caffeinated alcoholic beverages.