Pa. seeks to limit sales of alcoholic energy drinks

HARRISBURG - The Liquor Control Board is asking beverage distributors to stop carrying sugary, caffeinated malt liquor drinks. Board spokeswoman Stacey Witalec said safety concerns led officials to send letters to distributors last week. The board wants to limit access to alcoholic energy drinks like Four Loko, which attracted attention when nine Central Washington University students were sickened last month at a party where it was consumed.

The LCB is not banning the drink, but is asking distributors to remove it from their shelves until the Food and Drug Administration finishes a safety review. Four Loko's manufacturer says that people have consumed caffeine and alcohol together safely for years and that it markets its products responsibly. - AP