Loko No More

Written: December 1, 2010

The FDA has is striving to put an end to the sales and legal distribution of the well-known Four Loko beverage which has become widely prevalent to consumers all over America.



The infamous Four Loko drink has become overly popular since its launch in Ohio in 2006. Since then, the drink has been linked to many alcohol related injuries, deaths, and black outs. The beverage is considered to be a toxic concoction of alcohol and caffeine. The amount of caffeine included is believed to be the equivalent of three shots of espresso, while the amount of alcohol is believed to be about 12% in most states-the equivalent of four beers. The drink is carbonated and consists of sugar, natural and artificial flavoring. The drink also has four other ingredients- hence the term “four loko”: caffeine, taurine, guarana, and wormwood. The drink is available in a variety of flavors including orange, blue raspberry, fruit punch, watermelon, and a few others.


According to the FDA and many police officials, the potent drink evokes the “blackout effect” on many individuals. It is also stressed that while under the influence of the beverage, many people feel compelled to handle volatile tasks such as drinking and driving. The alcoholic/ energy drink is believed to be responsible for many incidents that took place in Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma. It is said that in these states, citizens were hospitalized after drinking the beverage. Thus, these four states recently banned the legal distribution of the drink. However, since then, many other states, including Maryland and New York, have abolished the sales of the Four loko as well.


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration began to assert that the alcohol and caffeine levels concocted in the drink are hazardous. In November, manufacturers of the Four Loko beverage announced that they will remove caffeine and the other stimulants from the drink. However, the drink is still viewed as toxic and held under considerable suspicion by the F.D.A.

Officer Down

Police department officials assert that a clothing law that governs plain-clothed officers to wear the color of the day or week may be implemented so that other officials can identify them. This law is prominent in other cities and states. However, on duty officers are forced to remain in uniform at all times until the further review of the prospective law is taken place.



“We want to make sure that we’re using plainclothes officers in the safest manner possible” said the Baltimore Police Department’s chief spokesman, Anthony Gugliemi.


The police officers who opened fire on Officer William Torbitt Jr. , 33, mistaking him for a armed civilian, have been identified as Officer Latora Craig, nine - year veteran; Harry Dodge; 11 year -veteran; Harry Pawley; a 17-year veteran; and Toyia Williams; a 13-year veteran.


Police state that Officer Torbit was on duty, and responded to a fight call that was taking place outside of the club. It is said that Officer William was the first to respond to the call. Torbit strived to break up the brawl and was attacked and forced to the ground. Torbit then retrieved his gun and shot one of the civilians. As soon as Torbit wounded the civilian, four uniformed officers opened fire on him. Though these officers work in the same district as Torbitt, they did not recognize him. 41 shots were fired in total by the officers. The gun ramble ended in the death of Torbit, and a 22-year old civilian, Sean Gamble, and four others wounded. Police believe that Gamble was killed by the eight shots that Torbit fired.


Police are striving to decipher if Officer Torbit was in the right for opening fire on Gamble. However, Gulgielmi asserts that surveillance cameras reveal Torbit being attacked by civilians. Police supervisors also said that it is not certain whether Gamble is the initiator of the brawl. However, it is known that Torbit and Gamble did have an altercation.


Nonetheless, the shooting has served as a disastrous and tragic shock to the police department and the city of Baltimore. Mayor Rawlings-Blake has referred to the shooting as “a tragedy that shook us to our deepest core."










The funeral services for Officer Torbit will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.