Witnesses at a California Senate hearing accused the alcohol industry of marketing to children with sweet carbonated "alcopop" drinks, the Whittier Daily News reported June 7.

"I'm absolutely outraged by what the alcohol industry is doing to our kids," said state Sen. Liz Figueroa, chair of the Senate Select Committee on Children, who has authored a bill imposing penalties on alcohol companies whose ads appear to be aimed at children.

UCLA researcher Didra Brown Taylor told the committee that practices like placing nonalcoholic energy drinks near the beer and wine racks in stores and products like alcohol-flavored lip balm and bourbon-flavored sunflower seeds are examples of efforts to promote alcohol use among youth. Figueroa called alcopops "gateway" drinks that appeal especially to young girls.

"They're like sodas. You can gobble them down like they're nothing," said Altadena resident Marcus Ruth, 20, describing his use of alcopops as a teen. "The bright colors make it look tasty and fruity."

Editor's Note:
The original summary errantly noted the senate hearing as occurring in the state of New Mexico.