Despite the geographic distance between them, the San Francisco city attorney and New York’s state attorney general are joining forces to investigate together where Monster Beverage is marketing its energy drinks to kids. It’s unclear, however, if they’re sharing some sort of super secret, underground lair in like, Nebraska.

The bi-coastal probe started last month right before a federal judge in California threw out a lawsuit filed by Monster to stop an investigation by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, reports the Associated Press. He had filed his own lawsuit saying the drinks pose health risks, and that Monster misbrands its drinks and markets them to children.

Over on the East coast, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has been slapping Monster and other energy-drink makers with subpoenas as part of his own ongoing investigation.

And now it’s all coming together: Herrera said he thinks this joint effort will help consumers.

“We are disappointed that Monster has remained defiant in marketing products to children,” Herrera said. “We hope this effort will cause the company to correct its irresponsible marketing practices.”

Monster is responding by saying that the energy drinks aren’t meant for kids and aren’t even that caffeinated — a spokeswoman says a 16-ounce can of the drink has less than half the caffeine of a similar-sized cup of coffee.
The cans do say the drink isn’t recommended for children, among others with potential health risks.

As for how many children are clamoring for coffee or buying it at convenience stores, that’s unclear. And coffee can be hot, so it’s usually consumed slowly, Herrera responded.

Previously: Lawsuit Blames Teen’s Death On His Two-Can-A-Day Monster Beverage Habit; Lawmakers Call Out Energy Drink Makers For Inconsistent Labeling, Shady Marketing Practices

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