Warning to parents: These drinks aren't the same thing

Caffeine beverages with alcohol could pass for those without, group says

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published February 02, 2008

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The graphics on cans of Tilt and Sparks are slick and colorful, the taste is sweet and the package lists caffeine, guarana and ginseng.

But Tilt and Sparks have an ingredient that similar-looking caffeinated drinks such as Amp and Rockstar don't have: alcohol, in concentration of 6 percent to 8 percent by volume, which is more than many popular beers. "A lot of adults aren't aware of the alcoholic ones," said Mary Segawa, executive director of Together, which will cover the topic at a talk Tuesday.

"Kids could accidentally pick one up and drink it. Or they could drink it on purpose to try to sneak it by their parents," said Pam Darby, coordinator of the Washington State Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. The alcoholic beverages have come on the market in the past few years as energy drinks, which were introduced in the mid-1990s, have gained popularity.

The nonalcoholic energy drinks, which have names such as Full Throttle, Jolt and 180, are beverages marketed as increasing energy. They often tout ingredients such as taurine and guarana, which are thought to increase alertness, as caffeine does.

Energy drinks have more caffeine than most other soft drinks and about the same amount as coffee, according to Consumer Reports. A 16-ounce container is the equivalent of two regular-sized cups of coffee.

A few companies are capitalizing on the fad with alcoholic versions of the drinks. In 2005, Anheuser-Busch acquired Tilt and Miller Brewing Co. acquired Sparks, both caffeinated alcoholic drinks found in grocery and convenience stores.

Though neither drink claims to enhance energy on the package, both list guarana and ginseng as ingredients, similar to energy drinks.

"The cans are very similar-looking," said J. Ryan Shannon, spokesman for state Attorney General Rob McKenna. "We're definitely concerned about the messages they're using. We are directly concerned about the marketing of it."

Darby thinks the marketing is aimed at minors.

"Most adults, if they want to drink, could just buy alcohol," she said.