The FDA recently banned seven alcoholic energy drinks. Many U.S. States have also passed legislation to remove alcoholic energy drinks from the market for the increased health risk they pose to youth through a combination of the stimulant and depressant that can mask the effect of alcohol and contribute to binge or high-risk drinking.

With or without the cafeine, Alcopops are alcoholic beverages that appeal to youth with sweet flavors that mask the taste of alcohol. In an Australian blind taste test, one-third of young people tested (all participates were at the legal drinking age) could not tell or were unsure if the Alco-pops contained alcohol. The Marin Institute reports Alco-pops come in supersized packages in which a single 23.5oz can with 12% Alcohol is the equivalent of drinking 4.7- 12oz regular beers. That's a binge drink in a can, and a deadly recipe for high-risk teen drinking.

MADD Youth in Action Teams statewide are alerting adults how to tell the difference between Alco-pops and confusing non-alcoholic drinking by looking for the percent-alcohol by volumn (alcoholic) or nutrition facts (non-alcoholic). They're also working with elected officials and other community leaders to take steps to reduce youth's access to alcoholic products. LEARN MORE

Youth take a role in State and Local Government with model policies to reduce teen drinking Click here to go the Policy Page

Youth plan events, large or small, to recognize the hard work and dedication of local law enforcement who enforce underage drinking laws Click here to go to the law enforcement page

Youth participate in sting operations as undercover enforcement agents with law enforcement officers to verify retailers are not selling alcohol to minors. KY Applications available at ABC Compliance Checks Page