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Sparks (drink)
Encyclopedia
Sparks is an alcoholic beverage
that debuted in the US
market in 2002. The original formulation contained caffeine
, one of the first alcoholic beverages to do so. Its other original active ingredients included taurine, ginseng
and guarana
, common to energy drink
s.
Packaged in a can, its labeling states a 6% alcoholic content by volume
. Its flavor is similar to other energy drinks such as Red Bull
, Monster Energy
, and Rockstar
, with a tart, sugary taste.
Sparks' current formulation does not contain caffeine or taurine. It is packaged in 16oz silver cans with bright orange tops, with a "+" printed near the top and a "-" printed near the bottom, intended to be reminiscent of a battery. Other varieties include a sugar-free "Sparks Light" version with a bright blue top. Higher alcohol versions, named "Sparks Plus" (black top, 7% alcohol), "Sparks Red" (red top, 8% alcohol)" and "Sparks Stinger" (yellow top, 8% alcohol) are packaged in both 16oz and 24oz cans.
, early marketing relied on word of mouth
primed by giving away large quantities of the beverage..Between 2003 and 2005, it had a 107% compound annual growth rate.
On August 14, 2006, Miller Brewing Company
announced it had completed the purchase of Sparks from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million cash. Miller had been producing Sparks prior to this purchase. It is currently producing it under the Steel Brewing Company label of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
.
In September 2008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest
, a Washington, D.C.
-based non-profit
watchdog
and consumer advocacy group
, sued MillerCoors, claiming that its Sparks alcoholic beverages that include caffeine are a health hazard. Three months later, at the behest of San Francisco and 13 states, distributor MillerCoors LLC announced it would remove the caffeine from its Sparks line of energy drinks, and would change its marketing campaign. "We're doing it to protect the public health of our young people and to reform business practices," said S.F. City Attorney Dennis Herrera
.
Sparks Light (per 12 oz / 355 mL)
133 Calories
3.3 grams of carbohydrates
0.0 grams of fat.
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
that debuted in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market in 2002. The original formulation contained caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
, one of the first alcoholic beverages to do so. Its other original active ingredients included taurine, ginseng
Ginseng
Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
and guarana
Guarana
Guarana , Paullinia cupana, syn. P. crysan, P. sorbilis) is a climbing plant in the maple family, Sapindaceae, native to the Amazon basin and especially common in Brazil. Guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, and is best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a coffee bean...
, common to energy drink
Energy drink
Energy drinks are beverages whose producers advertise that they "boost energy." These advertisements usually do not emphasize energy derived from the sugar and caffeine they contain but rather increased energy release due to a variety of stimulants and vitamins....
s.
Packaged in a can, its labeling states a 6% alcoholic content by volume
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
. Its flavor is similar to other energy drinks such as Red Bull
Red Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
, Monster Energy
Monster Energy
-Distribution :Though it is not widely advertised in the media, Monster receives a large amount of recognition from its sponsorship of various sporting events, including motocross and car racing. Hansen Natural Corporation announced a distribution agreement with Anheuser-Busch in the U.S. and Grupo...
, and Rockstar
Rockstar (drink)
Rockstar is an energy drink created in 2001. With 14% of the US market in 2008, Rockstar is a leading energy drink brand. Rockstar is based in Las Vegas...
, with a tart, sugary taste.
Sparks' current formulation does not contain caffeine or taurine. It is packaged in 16oz silver cans with bright orange tops, with a "+" printed near the top and a "-" printed near the bottom, intended to be reminiscent of a battery. Other varieties include a sugar-free "Sparks Light" version with a bright blue top. Higher alcohol versions, named "Sparks Plus" (black top, 7% alcohol), "Sparks Red" (red top, 8% alcohol)" and "Sparks Stinger" (yellow top, 8% alcohol) are packaged in both 16oz and 24oz cans.
History
Created in 2002 by San Francisco-based beverage marketing firm McKenzie River CorporationMcKenzie River Corporation
McKenzie River Corporation is a beverage marketing firm based in San Francisco, CA. Founded in 1987 by Minott Wessinger with the help of his father, Fred Wessinger, the McKenzie River Corporation has launched a number of successful beverage products to the US market.- History :Minott Wessinger...
, early marketing relied on word of mouth
Word of mouth
Word of mouth, or viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person by oral communication. Storytelling is the oldest form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others of something, whether a real event or something made up. Oral tradition is cultural material and...
primed by giving away large quantities of the beverage..Between 2003 and 2005, it had a 107% compound annual growth rate.
On August 14, 2006, Miller Brewing Company
Miller Brewing Company
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
announced it had completed the purchase of Sparks from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million cash. Miller had been producing Sparks prior to this purchase. It is currently producing it under the Steel Brewing Company label of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.
In September 2008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit watchdog and consumer advocacy group focusing on nutritional education and awareness.-History and funding:...
, a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
watchdog
Watchdog journalism
Watchdog journalism aims to hold accountable public personalities and institutions, whose functions impact social and political life. The term "lapdog journalism", for journalism biased in favour of personalities and institutions, is sometimes used as a conceptual opposite to watchdog...
and consumer advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
, sued MillerCoors, claiming that its Sparks alcoholic beverages that include caffeine are a health hazard. Three months later, at the behest of San Francisco and 13 states, distributor MillerCoors LLC announced it would remove the caffeine from its Sparks line of energy drinks, and would change its marketing campaign. "We're doing it to protect the public health of our young people and to reform business practices," said S.F. City Attorney Dennis Herrera
Dennis Herrera
Dennis Herrera is City Attorney of San Francisco, best known for his court action in favor of gay marriage, including against Proposition 8. He was re-elected as City Attorney in 2009 with 96 percent of the vote...
.
Nutritional information
- Caffeine: 0 mg per 16 oz.
- EnergyFood energyFood energy is the amount of energy obtained from food that is available through cellular respiration.Food energy is expressed in food calories or kilojoules...
: 350 CalorieCalorieThe calorie is a pre-SI metric unit of energy. It was first defined by Nicolas Clément in 1824 as a unit of heat, entering French and English dictionaries between 1841 and 1867. In most fields its use is archaic, having been replaced by the SI unit of energy, the joule...
s (1463 kilojoules)- from carbohydrates: 188 calories (787 kJ) (54%)
- from alcohol: 161 calories (674 kJ) (46%)
- Total carbohydrates 47 g 16%
Sparks Light (per 12 oz / 355 mL)
133 Calories
3.3 grams of carbohydrates
0.0 grams of fat.