Last week the Thousand Oaks City Council approved a measure to place warning signs in the city's stores that carry both alcoholic beverages and energy drinks, or the new emerging brand of alcoholic energy drinks.  While few are quick to debate the merit of such a warning, one must take issue with the needless mandate created by such an ordinance.

According to the October 28, 2009 article in the Ventura County Star, the Thousand Oaks City Council will require local business selling the drinks to post signs saying "Warning: Consuming energy drinks that contain or are mixed with alcohol may mask the signs of impairment and INCREASE YOUR RISKS OF INJURY."  While this type of feel-good policy may give the local city councilmembers the opportunity to pat themselves on the back, the only actual accomplishment here is requiring every business affected in the city to purchase additional signage for their stores.

Additionally, the purpose of the sign placement, according to the Star article, is to "curb underage drinking".  Paired with other measured to be named, the measure to post signs about the drinks is meant to prevent minors from consuming alcohol.  In fact, there is no logical connection between the health risk of alcoholic energy drinks and underage drinking.  Additionally, the drinks are already sold in stores that are already bound by state law to not sell alcohol to persons under 21.

There is no need to create additional laws when all we need to do is enforce laws that already exist on the books.  If the Thousand Oaks City Council is so concerned about underage drinking, they should support programs that educate underage residents about the dangers of drinking or punish adults who buy alcohol for minors.  This measure targets the places where legal drinkers go to get their beverages.  It is synonymous with banning legal gun sales to stop gang members who buy there guns illegally anyway.

The Thousand Oaks City Council has its heart in the right place, but it needs to think a little longer before passing ineffective, feel-good legislation that only adds additional expenses to the budgets of local businesses.