Jul 1, 2008 2:17 pm US/Eastern
I-Team Investigation: Dangerous Brew
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Six months ago the I-Team first uncovered how companies are marketing alcohol energy drinks to teenagers.
CBS4 I-Team investigator Laurie Stein reveals some disturbing new developments and what's being done to keep these drinks away from our kids.
A YouTube posting revealed an obituary for a 16 year old girl. The medical examiner's report has not been completed yet, but Ashley Ramnauth's friends and family say she died after drinking alcohol along with energy drinks at a friend's house.
"We're seeing it a lot more unfortunately," said Dr. Deanna Soloway with Jjoe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
Soloway said more young people are coming into her emergency room, after consuming alcohol with caffeine.
"We're seeing kids come in with higher alcohol levels because the caffeine masks the alcohol. So kids are coming in with alcohol poisoning," explained Soloway.
The I-Team has found several lawsuits for DUI deaths and accidents associated with alcohol and energy drinks.
And perhaps that is why some young people we spoke to are starting to become a bit more careful about what they drink.
"I think something might come up as a side effect eventually. I think that mixing is dangerous and could have an effect on your health," said teenager Tineka Brown.
But others say the sweet taste, energizing effects and marketing are often too tempting to pass up.
As we've shown you in our hidden camera investigations with state police, pre-packaged alcoholic energy drinks are very easy for young people to buy!
In fact, in last month's "Operation Cocktail to Disaster" stings Stein watched as police arrested dozens of convenience store clerks for selling alcohol energy drinks to kids. In South Florida, more than 58 were arrested in 114 locations. That means almost half of the stores, sold to kids.
"I thought it was an energy drink, admitted one store clerk.
As we reported last week, Anheiser Busch announced it is permanently getting out of the alcoholic energy drink market. But others, including Miller Brewing Company, said they're staying in. And I've found that online, the drinks appear more popular than ever. There is even a Sparks cartoon character that states the following: "Man if I could have a Sparks every day, my life would be set. My life would be better my energy level would be up. Everything would be great."
In another, Sparks "Revs up a motor" this drinker giggles as he falls over. And in still another, someone who appears passed out gets a Sparks and keeps on drinking.
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