Dangerous duo.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Alcoholic energy drinks

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What did the drinks Four Loko and Joose have in common? Lots of caffeine and lots of alcohol. And that was causing lots of concern. Some young people who consumed these kinds of drinks were blacking out, injuring themselves, landing in the hospital and even dying.

More than a year ago, 29 state attorneys general shared concerns about these alcohol energy drinks, first introduced in 2005, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And on Nov. 17, 2010, the FDA warned four companies that the caffeine added to these alcoholic drinks is an "unsafe food additive."

Even before the FDA came out with its warning, many colleges and some state liquor control boards had banned alcoholic energy drinks. And at least eight states introduced legislation in 2010 to either study, regulate or prohibit the drinks.

Often referred to as "blackout in a can," the drinks had an alcohol content ranging from 6 percent to 12.5 percent. One can of some brands was the equivalent of five beers and a cup of Starbucks coffee. A February 2010 study by the University of Florida found that college-age adults who consumed these drinks were three times more likely to be highly intoxicated when leaving a bar and four times more likely to drive than those who drank only alcohol.

Four Loko maker Phusion responded to the FDA's warning by...