"malt liquor" news and stories

First there was Disney's "Champagne" for kids, and now the authorities (whoever those authorities may be) are all over Spyke. However, unlike the kiddie Champagne that was "just for pretend," Anheuser-Busch's new Spyke has real alcohol - it's a malt beverage with a 12% alcohol content.

The reason there's a stink about it? People are worried that Spyke is aimed at teens, particularly during Prom and graduation season. Not only does the drink come in flavors -- mango, lime, melon and chocolate -- but it's also infused with caffeine and energy herbs ginseng and guarana, and it comes in a tiny bottle that's easily hidden from a parent's or chaperone's watchful eye.

The authorities are worried about Ab's reckless marketing to teens, but I worry that this is just a nasty drink. I mean really, "spyking" your cocktail with a chocolate-flavored malt liquor? Gross.

In an effort to curb underage drinking, two California senators have launched a plan to make sweet malt liquor products like Mike's Hard Lemonade and Smirnoff Ice more expensive, less available and less aggressively advertised. Democratic Senators Carole Migden of San Francisco and Liz Figueroa of Sunol feel that the makers of sweet, carbonated drinks they call 'alcopops' are illegally targeting underage drinkers with their advertising. Advertising that is "intended to encourage minors to drink" alcohol is illegal in California. According to a recent Sacramento Bee article, the senators' proposed legislation would eliminate the need to prove intent. The other approach contained in the proposed law would change the tax status of such sweet drinks from that of brewed alcohol (like beer) to distilled spirits--a tax jump of over $3 per gallon. Opponents say that the proposal unfairly targets drinkers of legal age, as it would make malt beverages unavailable in restaurants that have only beer and wine licenses. Moreover, opponents of the proposal say that those selling liquor to underage drinkers should be targeted over advertisers.