Written: December 1, 2010
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.
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