ALBANY, N.Y. — Highoctane energy drinks including 5-Hour Energy and Monster that promise healthy bursts of energy are getting pulled over in New York.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued subpoenas this summer to the drinks’ makers, according to a person familiar with the inquiry, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation has not yet been made public.
The inquiry is examining how the drinks are made, often loaded with caffeine and sugar, along with what critics say is a mostly useless amount of Vitamin B, and how they are marketed at sports events and sometimes in bars. That can lead to a dizzying combination of alcohol impairment without the sedative effect that slows drinkers down and lets them know they aren’t alert enough to drive.
Company officials and Schneiderman spokeswoman Michelle Duffy declined to comment.