New York is one of more than two dozen states in which the Attorney General wanted the Food and Drug Administration to take a closer look at alcoholic energy drinks.

On Friday, the FDA asked distillers to back up their claims that the use of caffeine and other stimulants in alcoholic beverages is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under FDA regulations.

"AEDs" are a class of alcoholic beverages to which caffeine and other stimulants - such as guarana - have been added at the point of manufacture.

On September 25, 2009 the Attorneys General wrote to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, to suggest that the FDA examine whether the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages is considered GRAS under FDA regulations.

Some of the state top-cops felt that alcoholic energy drinks are nothing more than amped-up-alcopops that look like non-alcohol energy drinks. They are popular with young people who might believe that the caffeine will offset the intoxicating effects of the alcohol.

Now the AG's are applauding the FDA's decision today to have the manufacturers prove that their products are safe.