SACRAMENTO, IL - A California bill to ban alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine has beer enthusiasts concerned about their artisanal brews, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The bill has been touted as a way to protect young people from a potentially dangerous alcohol-caffeine combination, and the measure would affect stouts and porters that are infused with coffee, espresso, and chocolate, drinks that some beer aficionados consider delicacies.

"This seems like it's an overreaction that could potentially harm consumers interested in legitimate products," said San Mateo home brewer David Jensen, who argues against the bill on his blog, beer47.com. "There's something that coffee really adds to beer that you can't reproduce."

Jensen said the legislation launches California on a "slippery slope," noting that drinks including rum and Coke, which contain caffeine, would fall under the purview of the bill.

"A better approach would be to regulate the marketing, and have more information available," Jensen said. "The Food and Drug Administration is already investigating this and are already regulating this area. Why is California wasting its time on this issue?"