Bad science from the FDA: threatening to ban caffeinated alcoholic drinks.

"F.D.A. is not aware of any basis that manufacturers have to conclude that the use of caffeine added to alcoholic beverages is generally recognized as safe," [spokesperson] Dr. Sharfstein said.

Really? Kahlua. Chocolate liqueurs. Irish Coffee. Rum & Coke, Whiskey & Coke, anything and Coke. Not to mention the DIY version of the alcoholic energy drink, Red Bull & vodka. Ethanol has been paired with caffeine as long as tall drinks have been popular.

The two chemicals are not reactive; the FDA's official fear is a synergystic effect in the body, "associated with increased risk of serious injury, drunken driving, sexual assault and other dangerous behavior." In other words, eactly the same list of risks already linked causally to consumption of alcohol alone. The theory is that the stimulant and diuretic effects of caffeine artificially prop up the drinker's estimation of his tolerance and abilities; I am very skeptical of this conclusion. (I would love to see the double-blind test that even comes close to proving this.) The real increased risk comes from these products' appealling to inexperienced and binge drinkers--a factor much more difficult for the FDA to ban.

In theory, the FDA could regulate the proportion of the two chemicals, though I wonder if that would run into a Separation challenge, given that laws on alcohol concentration are all state/local. There is frankly no way the law can prevent the consumption of caffeine and ethanol in tandem (without changing caffeine's GRAS status), and it's doubtful they could prohibit them from appearing in the same glass. Banning the two from appearing in the same can is just stupid.