THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DEASY, BISHOP, CASORIO, CLYMER, COHEN, DALEY, DONATUCCI, FARRY, HARKINS, JOSEPHS, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MANN, READSHAW AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 25, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL, MAY 25, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to study the risks

of consuming alcoholic energy drinks and consuming high

caffeine energy drinks together with alcohol. 

WHEREAS, The consumption of alcoholic energy drinks has

increased in recent years; and

WHEREAS, Mixing alcohol with high caffeine energy drinks has

become a popular, but potentially life-threatening habit among

students and young adults; and

WHEREAS, Recent data indicate that persons who consume high

caffeine energy drinks with alcohol are twice as likely to be

injured during a bout of drinking, to need medical care, to ride

with a drunk driver, to be sexually assaulted or to engage in

risky and violent behavior; and

WHEREAS, High caffeine levels tend to mask the effects of

excess alcohol, impair judgment and reaction times and make the

person unaware that he is intoxicated; and

WHEREAS, Alcoholic energy drinks and high caffeine energy

drinks have become a multibillion dollar industry and some

energy drinks that are laced with alcohol are marketed to young

people; and

WHEREAS, The consumption of alcohol or prescribed medication

with such an energy drink exacerbates the adverse effect of

psychoactive drugs; and

WHEREAS, The consumption of high caffeine energy drinks with

alcohol has been linked to significant health and behavioral

risks and alcoholic energy drinks are available to anyone

without regard to the age of the individual; and

WHEREAS, It is important that the public, particularly

students and young adults, are made aware of the potentially

harmful effects of high caffeine energy drinks, especially when

consumed with alcohol and medication; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to study the risks of

consuming alcoholic energy drinks and consuming high caffeine

energy drinks together with alcohol; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, if the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

conducts the study, it should do all of the following:

(1)  Determine the extent to which alcoholic energy

drinks and high caffeine energy drinks are consumed by

students and young adults and whether the drinks are consumed

with alcohol or medication.

(2)  Ascertain whether certain injuries, violence and

other risky behaviors have been linked to the consumption of

these products by students and young adults in this

Commonwealth.

(3)  Determine whether the consumption of these drinks

together with alcohol and medication is a problem in this

Commonwealth.

(4)  Evaluate the feasibility of limiting access of

alcoholic energy drinks to underage drinkers.

(5)  Recommend ways to inform the public concerning the

health and behavior risks of consuming high caffeine energy

drinks with alcohol and medication.

(6)  Consider other related matters as deemed

appropriate;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all

departments and agencies of the Commonwealth to provide

assistance to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for this

study; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, if the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

conducts the study, it should report its findings to the House

of Representatives as soon as possible after concluding the

study.