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# Alcoholic Energy Drink Controversy
MillerCoors Sued for Sparks

By Going Like Sixty | Published 2008-09-10 | Lifestyle
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/controversial-energy-drink-millercoors-gets-sued-to-ban-orange-tongue
References: [marketwatch](http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cspi-sues-stop-millercoors-sparks/story.aspx?guid={E676A8FC-C80D-415D-8841-C1F0080770EC}&dist=hppr)

Orange tongues be gone. Fresh from their success in getting Bud Extra pulled from the market, a group has targeted the [Sparks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wisdom-sparks) brand by MillerCoors.

Sparks is a beer with 6-7 percent alcohol and [added caffeine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sparkling-energy-drinks1). The group says the additives are not approved and they're also unhappy about the fact that MillerCoors clearly markets their drink to teens.

Sparks has a citrus taste and is a [bright orange color](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orange-blast), and is one of MillerCoors' fastest growing brands.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 5.0/10
- Popularity: 50% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial
- Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking)

## Key Themes

### What's Driving This Trend

- **Alcohol and Energy Drinks:** The combination of alcohol and caffeine in drinks is raising safety concerns, creating market opportunities for alternatives with similar effects.
- **Teen-targeted Marketing:** With a heightened focus on transparency and responsibility, businesses have the opportunity to rethink their advertising strategies and target younger audiences ethically.
- **Health-conscious Drinking:** Consumers are seeking healthier options in alcohol consumption, paving the way for new products that offer the same alcohol content without the added ingredients that raise controversy.

### Who This Affects Most

- **Beverage:** Companies can capitalize on the trend of alcohol and energy drink combinations by creating safer alternatives that offer similar effects.
- **Marketing and Advertising:** Businesses have an opportunity to rethink their advertising strategies and create campaigns that effectively target younger audiences ethically.
- **Health and Wellness:** As consumers seek healthier options in alcohol consumption, there is potential for new products to emerge that offer the same effect without the controversial additives that Sparks contains.

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