CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago City Council committee talked about energy drinks, but didn't vote on an alderman's proposal to ban them.

The Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/WOb05j ) reports that at Tuesday's hearing on Alderman Edward Burke's proposed ban on the drinks a medical expert testified the "super-caffeinated energy drinks" pose serious health risks. But another witness countered that only 20,000 of the 136 million annual emergency room visits were tied to the drinks.

Burke has repeatedly pointed to the case of a Maryland teenager whose family alleges died after drinking two 24-ounce Monster energy drinks in a 24-hour period.

On Monday, Monster Beverage said the girl's blood was never tested for 'caffeine toxicity." The girl's mother was to have testified Tuesday, but couldn't because of the snowstorm.