A group of 28 state attorneys general is calling on the Bush administration to crack down on marketing of alcoholic energy drinks that they say targets youth with potency claims.

The Associated Press reported Aug. 21 that the group -- which also included the attorneys general of Guam and the District of Columbia -- urged federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau chief John Manfreda to investigate the marketing practices of companies like Miller Brewing Co. (which makes the Sparks and Sparks Plus energy drinks), Anheuser-Busch (Bud Extra) and Charge Beverages of Portland (Liquid Charge and Liquid Core).

They also want investigators to analyze the ingredients of alcoholic energy drinks to determine whether they should be classified as malt beverages or distilled spirits.

"Nonalcoholic energy drinks are very popular with today's youth," said Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers. "Beverage companies are unconscionably appealing to young drinkers with claims about the stimulating properties of alcoholic energy drinks."

Francine Katz, a spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch, replied that Bud Extra "is simply a malt beverage that contains caffeine, and is clearly marked as containing alcohol. In fact, Bud Extra has less caffeine than a 12-ounce Starbucks coffee."

But the AGs say that the brewers are making misleading health-related claims about their energy drinks. "Combining alcohol with caffeine hardly seems healthy and that false claim is what we seek to halt," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.