They’re called alcoholic energy drinks; they’ve been around a few years now, and are among the latest entries into the world of gimmick alcoholic beverages.

But public health and safety officials are raising red flags over these, since they seem to be popular among young people, including underage consumers.

Alcoholic energy drinks are prepackaged beverages that contain up to 12 percent alcohol, and they’re also loaded with caffeine and other stimulants.

But many of them look more like an oversized can of soda pop than alcoholic beverages, and they can look exactly like the now-popular energy-only drinks.

The Liquor Control Commission has voted to “reconsider the packaging” of the drinks, adding that it will allow the commission to take “any corrective action in the labeling of the products” to determine if they promote  “intemperance, or intoxication” or are found to be “detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the general public.”

The decision follows some studies regarding the products, and it also anticipates some other studies yet to be released.

Also, there seems to be growing concern among substance abuse awareness and parent groups, and the FDA has also indicated it wants to investigate the drinks further.

. . .

Also on the issue of underage drinking, there’s an effort by some lawmakers to crack down harder on adults who furnish liquor to a minor.

Under a bill in the House, adults who furnish liquor to a minor could not only face the current fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail, they would also lose their driver’s license for six months. Retailers/licensees are exempted in the legislation.

. . .

It was curious to watch the testimony on the proposal to have another tax amnesty program, where the estimated amount of revenue it would bring in quickly went from $3 million to $27 million or more.

That’s because the State decided to look at the model of the 1986 amnesty program instead of the 2002 amnesty program model.

The suspicion was that it needed an artificial boost in order to make the budget look balanced. Sort of like filling in phony amounts in your checkbook just to balance it.

If this shows anything, it again shows that the much talked about state requirement for a balanced budget isn’t really that; instead, it’s more of a requirement that you pass a budget that claims to be balanced.

. . .

At first I thought it was just another example of lawmakers trying to scrape together every dime they could for the budget.

After all, the idea of shortening the time period that unused travelers checks become escheats to the state seems innocuous. However, a House fiscal agency estimate says the proposal would bring in a whopping $60 million.

That’s because (as of this printing) the proposal would change the current 15-year time period before becoming unclaimed property to a comparatively miniscule three years.

If you have old traveler’s checks hanging around since your last vacation, you may want to take care of them before they wind up in the state treasury.

. . .

A milestone for the Michigan Court of Appeals. It saw its 300 thousandth case filed over the summer. The court had its first case in 1965, after being created by the then-new Michigan Constitution. The court says it has among the heaviest caseloads of any appellate court in the country.

. . .

A state lawmaker wants Michigan to divest itself from any banks that don’t participate in the Helping Hardest Hit Homeowners Fund, which was designed to help homeowners stay in and keep their home.

Rep. Tim Melton (D-Pontiac) says many banks have not participated, so state lawmakers should send a message.

Noting that some of the banks in question took TARP money, Melton says “…we can put all the pressure on them we want, but if we don’t hit their balance sheet, they won’t pay attention.”

. . .

Give the people what they want, even if it’s an addiction.

Certainly that philosophy is nothing new in America, but in this case I’m talking about things like social networking and texting.

While the state has banned texting while driving, Onstar is working on a way that effectively sidesteps the law but does not make the roads any more unsafe than they already are.

Their gadget: voice-controlled texting while driving and social networking while driving.

I love gadgets, to be sure, but it’s the quote from the company that I’m not comfortable with:  “…regardless of how many laws are passed against distracted driving, the reality is that people will still want to [interact]…for many people it’s an addictive behavior.”

The new technology is expected to go into production by the end of the year.

This, despite testimony heard at the Capitol recently that any type of activity, even if hands aren’t used, is a distraction to drivers.

. . .

Are digital billboards a distraction for drivers? Supporters of legislation in Lansing to put a moratorium on new ones say they are. Digital billboards change images every four to 10 seconds and I have to admit they’re fascinating to watch, and I haven’t had an accident looking at them.

The billboard industry says they’ve studied the matter and says there’s clear research that states they’re not a distraction.

That hasn’t stopped a number of communities around the country that have banned them outright, calling them “television on a stick.”

. . .

Democratic attorney general candidate and Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton says he has developed a thick skin over the years, due in part to his Friday night activity.

His job on Fridays is as a high school football referee (the actual head official, the “white hat,” they’re sometimes called). Leyton says he’s heard it all when it comes to the verbal bombs from the fans and others.

		Rob Baykian is director of news and operations at the 67-station Michigan Radio Network. He has been covering the Capitol since 1981.