Washington State Bans Alcoholic Energy Drinks

The Washington state Liquor Control Board voted Wednesday to ban alcoholic energy drinks following the hospitalization of nine Central Washington students last month.

Authorities say they drank the caffeinated malt liquor beverage Four Loko.

The ban takes effect Nov. 18.

Gov. Chris Gregoire asked the board to consider the ban. And Attorney General Rob McKenna has asked the Food and Drug Administration to consider whether such drinks are safe.

Four Loko: Is New Party Brew "Liquid Cocaine?"

Earlier this month, Michigan's liquor control commission banned the retail sale of all alcohol energy drinks on the opinion that they "pose serious health and safety risks to American youth" and "present a threat to the public health and safety."

Late last year, at the urging of a group of state attorneys general, the FDA sent letters to nearly 30 manufacturers responsible for more than 40 alcoholic energy drinks asking them to prove their products are safe.

Phusion Projects LLC., the company that makes Four Loko, one of the most popular drinks, has told CBS News they responded to the FDA and provided internal research showing their products are safe to consume - in their words no different than "having coffee after a meal with a couple of glasses of wine."

Four Loko's main product is a 23.5-ounce drink with 12 percent alcohol - roughly equivalent to drinking five 12-ounce beers. The drink also has about a cup's worth of coffee, according to the manufacturer.