The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) sent a letter to ABC stores this week warning them about selling alcoholic energy drinks.
“Alcoholic energy drinks when consumed by underage persons are a serious threat to public safety,” the letter reads. “We expect you to use extreme caution when selling these products.”
The ABC has also highlighted a 2008 study from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine that said people who mixed alcohol and energy drinks had a reduced ability to gauge their level of intoxication and were at a greater risk for driving under the influence.
“Alcoholic energy drinks are popular with underage drinkers – a population who is at an increased risk for drunken driving crashes and other alcohol-related dangers,” said ABC chairman Neal Insley. “We’ve had numerous incidents in Virginia involving alcoholic energy drinks, including at least one fatality. We expect retailers to act in a legal, responsible and safe manner to help avoid additional tragedies.”
