Denny's Free Grand Slam Breakfast Day Tuesday
Marina Yoga Studio Donates Old Mats for Haitian Relief
Prop 8 Trial Judge Is Gay; Should This Matter?
Muni Bus Nails a Fire Hydrant
Central Subway Ground Broken
City Attorney Dennis Herrera, along with 13 other state attorneys generals, helped rid store shelves of MillerCoors' "Sparks", an energy drink containing caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and guarana. Oh, and some alcohol too. And today, MillerCoors will no longer make caffeinated "Sparks," "Sparks Plus," "Sparks Light," or any other alcoholic energy drinks ever again.
Invented in San Francisco by local beverage marketing company McKenzie River Corporation, the tacky beverage, it seems, is marketed to the underage set. (Sparks shamelessly uses images of batteries, rocket ships, and powered snowboards in their ads.) What's more, the high-love combo reduced the drinker's sense of intoxication, making you feel less drunk than you actually are. Which is bad.
According to a statement Herrera released today, the "combustible mix" is hurting the children, who are our future.
A recently published study found that college students who mix alcohol and energy drinks were more likely to be hurt, sexually assaulted or drive drunk than those who only drank alcohol. In addition, college students who reported drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks engage in increased heavy episodic drinking and have twice as many episodes of weekly drunkenness.
MillerCoors will also have to fork over $550,000, which will be divided among the thirteen states and
San Francisco. The agreement will also force MillerCoors to do the following: "Stop manufacturing and marketing all caffeinated alcoholic beverages, including "Sparks" as currently formulated; reformulate its alcoholic energy drinks so that they do not contain caffeine or other stimulants such as guarana; stop using images in its marketing that imply energy or power, like the battery-themed +/- symbols on its can; stop particular marketing themes that appeal to underage youth, eliminating advertisements that feature a bright orange-stained tongue and not renewing its contract with William Ocean; and immediately discontinue the Sparks Web site."
Looks like it's back to Vodka Red Bulls, folks. Alas.
Image: ncsparkitect
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Funny - it's always about the kids. No matter that the only people I ever saw DRINKING Sparks were 30-40 year old bike messengers.
Why does this country have such a stick up its ass when it comes to alcohol. Who gives a shit! apparenlty people that aren't me. oooh its for the children, blah blah, lame. So people are trying to have a good time. If they do something stupid, its their own damn fault. Personally I think Sparks is hella lame, but whatevs. If the youth want to drink it, let them.
As long as Joose stays on the shelves my friends and I are happy. and so are the homeless: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joose_(drink)
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to have to buy all I can and then determine which nights are Sparks worthy.
(
damn... that was my hangover drink of choice.
You've got to be kidding me, over underage drinking concerns? Nanny government wins again - thanks for looking out for my health.
Also, what a ridiculous logical fallacy in the quoted blurb - could it be that those students that decide to drink caffeinated alcoholic beverages are hardcore boozehounds, and were more likely to engage in risky behavior in the first place? Nah, let's just blame the beverage.
Correlation does not imply causation, people.
I guess this means I'll have to mix my own Sparks at home. Does Rainbow Grocery sell individyals bottles of caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and guarana?
I just now realized that the can is a batterie.
that stuff tasted like beer barf. good riddance.
If your under 21 you cannot legally purchase this drink so what's the problem?
Wait, you had to be over 21 to buy this stuff?? Then what the f**k is the problem? I wouldn't drink this stuff, it (along with red bull and its progeny), looks like pretty nasty swill, but I really think they're taking nanny state too far.
Guess kids will just have to go back to raiding their parents' liquor cabinet.
Remember when Tilt got "reformulated" and no one cared?
Why are they even bothering to still make Sparks? I loved it, but I will most certainly never buy it again. I mean, it's a nasty orange malt beverage, and if it doesn't even have caffeine, why would I pay the premium for it when I could get a 40 of High Life for the same price?
SERIOUSLY
I can certainly see how batteries, rocket ships and snowboards are the pry bar de bouche for the under aged. With that thinking they should also close down the manufacturing of Lucid. I mean really. Those yellow eyes staring out from the abyss surely is intended to steal children's souls.
What the shit? I guess it had a good 5ish year run. I remember driving 25 miles to a 7-11 outside DC to get some sparks.
my nights are permanently ruined...
drinkin sparks
puke in parks.
Thanks a lot Mr. Herrera.
With all the problems facing SF, this is what you waste your time on?!
Oh well, it's back to California Coolers.
Sorry, Denny.
Wrong move.
Will Irish Coffee be the next to go?
I'm glad i still have my good old standbye of Fuzzy Navels.
First off, if the "underage set" is drinking this stuff, is that the problem of MillerCoors or those who sell the drinks? Of course MillerCoors is responsible. I mean, you can't blame the alcoholic beverage stores, right? Yes, I am being INCREDIBLY sarcastic.
Second, if people are drinking too much of this stuff and having bad episodes, or whatever, then the simple solution is... DON'T DRINK THE DAMN STUFF UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES!! You know why I don't drink alcoholic energy drinks? Because when I get drunk I like to pass out before I throw up on all my friends and think its a good idea to jump in a car. You know why? I'M RESPONSIBLE!!! The city attorney and the state attorney generals should be charging the people who aer drinking too much of this crap! Hell, I'm sure it says on the can "Consume responsibly" or some similar sentence. This story is pathetic!