COLUMBIA, SC €" A South Carolina House subcommittee voted last week to outlaw alcoholic energy drinks, saying the beverages that can leave users "wide-awake drunk" remain on store shelves, despite federal warnings, the Associated Press reports.

The proposal would ban the production and distribution of beverages such as Joose and Four Loko.

This past November, the Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to four manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks, saying the caffeine was an "unsafe" food additive that led to car wrecks, assaults, and alcohol poisoning. The four manufacturers agreed to remove the drinks or reformulate them, but a substantial quantity of cans remain in South Carolina stores.

The bill is scheduled to be considered by the House's Judiciary Committee this week. To become state law, it must pass the House and Senate and then Governor Nikkie Haley must sign it into law.

The bill passed the bipartisan subcommittee unanimously.

Under the bill, violators found producing importing, or selling the drinks could be fined up to $500 and imprisoned up to six months. Retailers could also lose their license to sell alcohol for two years.