August 1/Sacramento, Cal./Los Angeles Times-- Companies will no longer be able to produce or sell beer infused with caffeine in California starting January 1 after Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation introduced because of the health risks of the beverages.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) wrote SB 39 in response to several incidents in which young drinkers were hospitalized for alcohol overdoses while using caffeinated beer.

"The added caffeine masks the effects of the high alcohol content, which can lead to binge drinking and dangerous behavior,” Padilla said. He said drinking a single caffeinated beer beverage has been compared with drinking five cans of beer and one cup of coffee.

From the August 2, 2011,Prepared Foods' Daily News.