Tilt (drink)
Tilt is an alcoholic beverage launched in the market in the United States in August 2005.[1] Its alcoholic content by volume varies and is higher than most American beer (commonly 3–6%), 10% in the lemon lime flavor, to 12% in the new Tilt Red variety, which is a blend of fruit flavors such as cherry, orange, grape, lime and tropical fruit. Tilt drink products are sold in 16 and 24 fluid ounce cans.
| Type | Malt beverage, Energy drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Anheuser-Busch |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | August 2005 |
| Alcohol by volume | 6.6%, 8%, 10%, 11%, 12% |
| Color | Blue, Green, Red, Purple, Pinkish Red |
| Flavor | Berry, Lemon Lime, Fruit Punch, Grape, Watermelon, Piña Colada |
| Variants | Tilt Red |
| Related products | 3Sum, Four, Joose, Red Bull, Sparks |
Since at least December 2010, all flavors appear to have 12% alcohol/volume.
History
Tilt was introduced as an energy drink containing alcohol, and marketed as a "Premium Malt Beverage". The original formulation's active ingredients included caffeine, ginseng and Guarana. In 2008, a re formulated Tilt was launched with only caffeine. Budweiser changed the formulation for similar reasons to Miller Brewing Company, manufacturer of Sparks.
Under pressure from special interest groups which in turn put pressure on state governments, caffeine was later banned as well.[2] In September 2010, Tilt was reintroduced in a twenty four fluid ounce can similar to Four Loko. Currently, Tilt is sold in seven flavors: Tilt Green, Red/Fruit Punch, Purple, Blue, Piña Colada and Watermelon. The cost is about $2.00 to $5.00. All flavors come in 6–12% alcohol. (varies state to state/store to store)
Related products
Other "malternatives" that used similar energy formulations include 3SUM, Four Loko, Joose, and Sparks. Tilt's alcoholic content by volume is similar to various formulations of these other drinks. The formulations for all US malt beverages containing caffeine changed between 2010 and 2011 due to pressure from Washington, DC lobbyists and the Food and Drug Administration.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had also delivered findings that these drinks were particularly in vogue with minors, and were likely to cause blackouts and other health risks, and increased the likelihood of a rape occurring, both on the part of the rapist and the victim.[3] These findings, combined with parental outcry led to a ban on caffeinated alcoholic beverages in the United States.
References
- "Anheuser-Busch blends caffeine, ginseng, alcohol". USA Today. 2005-08-08. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- MillerCoors Will Revamp Sparks, The Wall Street Journal, December 19, 2008
- "FDA Expected to Ban Caffeinated Alcohol Drinks". U.S. News & World Report. HealthDay News. November 17, 2009.