We did it. We Succeeded at getting CBS to run a national story about alcoholic energy drinks.

If you're one of 422 activists, parents and youth advocates who sent emails to CBS in support of national coverage for alcoholic energy drinks, we want to say thank you!

On Wednesday, February 27, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric aired a national exposé highlighting alcoholic energy drinks. Titled “Alcohol, Tobacco Products Aimed At Teens” the segment featured an interview with Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal. The story addressed serious health risks associated with combining alcohol with caffeine and other energy ingredients and the investigation of alcoholic energy drink producers Anheuser Bush and Miller Brewing Company.

Below are a few excerpts from the responses CBS received from the growing community of concerned individuals who want to raise awareness about alcoholic energy drinks.

As a Certified Prevention Professional I have studied the nagative
effects of energy drinks on young people -- it hinders the body's ability
to absorb calcium (very necessary at that age) and the high caffeine
content also has an effect on the cardio system.  Most of the energy
drinks are advertised to adolescents -- high school age -- and they
really are the most vulnerable to the effects.  A real story on the
hard fact of energy drinks would be a great service to your audience.

S.Y.
Amherst, NY

***

I am a middle school counselor.  I know and understand the dangers of underage drinking.  I see students everyday who cannot get out of the trap of underage drinking.  The new energy drinks with added alcohol are even more enticing to students because they do not taste bitter and can be disguised easily from adults. Students and parents do no understand the dangers of consuming these high amounts of caffeine alone.  A few months ago a neighboring teen was sent to the hospital for overdosing on energy drinks. This is a serious matter.

J. S.
Cedar Rapids, IA

***

CBS Cares has made an impact on our veiwers. Your series on alocholic energy drinks needs to be heard. From our experience with your past broadcast on social issues, people LISTEN. Please broadcast Powerful Potions!

T. C.
Jerome, ID

***

Energy drinks appeal to a young crowd.  Add alcohol and the appeal is
doubled.  As a person who helps young adults attempt to recover from
the mental and legal effects of alcohol, this progression makes no
sense.

D.W.
Kahului, HI

***

Underage alcohol & other substance abuse is an ongoing problem
& needs to be addressed on all levels. Every time the alcohol
distributors come up with a 'new' ploy to market to our kids, we need
to have a counter-response.

I hope you are able to air this on a National level.

S.G.
New City, NY

***

It is the people's right to know the what the ingredients are in the
drinks this company is selling.  Please, please make this available to
TV land.

P.E.
White Plains, MD

***

I am very concerned about this issue, not only because of the alcohol
content and the marketing that is obviously geared toward youth, but
because of the extremely high caffeine that is combined with this
product.  I have heard over and over these past months from school
officials and youth workers of their concern over the the high
consumption of these energy drinks and the resulting behavior.  PLEASE
help bring more awareness to parents and schools about these products!
Thank you.

L.K.
Portsmouth, NH

***

I have been giving numerous presentations to community groups in my
area about these alcoholic energy drinks, warning parents about the
dangers and urging young people not to drink these beverages.

B. S.
Ocean, NJ

***

As Program Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Youth Services,
I am asking that you broadcast the story entitled "Alcohol Laced
Energy Drinks Spell Double Trouble" to the California, and more
specificly to the Los Angeles, market.  The teens and families that we
work with do not understand that these drinks are not benign.

N. W.
Culver City, CA

***

I work with young people that are trying to make a difference in
preventing youth alcohol use.  I think it is an issue that needs to be
addressed both locally and nationally.  Please help us to continue
this fight, that is taking the lives of our young people an others.
We need to let both youth and parent know how dangerous the drinks
really are.

M. C.
Austin, TX