MillerCoors to reformulate Sparks energy drink

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- MillerCoors LLC says it will reformulate its Sparks energy drink to remove caffeine and three other ingredients from the product.

A group of state attorneys general, including Illinois' Lisa Madigan, complained that caffeine and other stimulants in the beverage would reduce drinkers' sense of intoxication and increase risky behaviors in driving and other activities.

The Milwaukee-based company says it will remove caffeine, taurine, guarana and ginseng from Sparks and will not produce caffeinated alcohol beverages.

Spokesman Julian Green says the company will pay $550,000 to 13 states and the city of San Francisco to cover the cost of their investigation.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch said in June it would reformulate its Tilt and Bud Extra drinks to remove the stimulants as part of a settlement with 11 attorneys general.

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The MillerCoors settlement is with the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Oklahoma and the city attorney of San Francisco.