Governor Signs Bill To Ban Caffeinated Beer in California

On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law a bill (SB 39) that will prohibit beginning Jan. 1 companies from producing or selling beer that contains caffeine in California. The bill, by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles), is in response to several health-related incidents that occurred after consumption of such beverages. California is the seventh state to ban beer that contains caffeine.

• "Caffeinated-Beer Ban Signed by Governor" (McGreevy, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 8/1).
• "California's New Law Takes the Caffeine Kick Out of Alcoholic Beverages" (Nash, Bloomberg, 8/2).