California Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Beer With Added Caffeine

California Governor Jerry Brown this week signed a bill that bans the production and sale of beer with added caffeine. California is the seventh state to ban the drinks, according to the Associated Press.

Last month, Senator Alex Padilla, who sponsored the bill, said it targets beverages such as Four Loko or Joose that are often fruit-flavored, and are marketed in ways that are appealing to young people. He noted the added caffeine masks the effects of the high alcohol content, which can lead to binge drinking and dangerous behavior.

In November 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned the makers of seven caffeinated alcoholic drinks, including Four Loko, that their products are a public health concern and cannot stay on the market as currently formulated.