The California Assembly has approved a bill that would prohibit the production and sale of beer laced with caffeine.

SB39 is now headed back to the Senate, which will reconsider changes made by the Assembly.

The measure by Los Angeles Senator Alex Padilla would ban the import, production, distribution or retail sale of beer and related alcoholic beverages that have caffeine added. At least six other states have already passed similar bills.

Padilla said that the drinks tend to target young people and studies have found that they are often cheaper than energy drinks without alcohol.

“The added caffeine masks the effects of the high alcohol content, which can lead to binge drinking and dangerous behavior,” Padilla said.

Federal regulators have also taken up the issue, questioning the safety and marketing practices of the beverage makers.

Photo Credit: Austin Uhler, via Wikimedia Commons

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