• The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, April 5, 2007 11:30 AM

The Center for Science in the Public Interest charged yesterday that Anheuser Busch is marketing Spykes to underage drinkers as "liquid Lunchables" -- after the children's lunch kits made by Kraft Foods -- and called on the brewer to recall it from retailers shelves.

Spykes is a malt beverage in colorful two-ounce packages that comes in flavors such as Spicy Mango, Hot Melons, Spicy Lime and Hot Chocolate. It contains 12% alcohol by volume, about the same percentage as many types of wine. It also contains caffeine, ginseng and guarana that "gives your beer a kick, adds flavor to your drink and is perfect for a shot," according to A-B Web site.

Francine Katz, Anheuser's vice president of communications and consumer affairs, says Anheuser markets Spykes by word-of-mouth and in liquor stores where people must be of legal age to buy. Because the products have been in retailers nationwide only since January, she says it is too soon to say how they have been selling.

Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal »