Four Loko Dropping Caffeine From Drinks

Via Mister Disco

In anticipation of the FDA's expected ban on all caffeinated alcohol beverages, the company behind Four Loko has reluctantly announced they will remove caffeine, guarana and taurine from their products nationwide. Phusion Products LLC says in a statement, "We are taking this step after trying—unsuccessfully—to navigate a difficult and politically-charged regulatory environment at both the state and federal levels... We hoped that clear, consistent, industry-wide standards regulating pre-packaged caffeinated alcoholic beverages would be the outcome of these conversations. We also hoped others would share our commitment to transparency and fairness." Sorry guys, you'll just have to settle for unchecked outrage ruining the fun for everyone.

Yesterday, Chuck Schumer announced that after a year-long study the FDA will move to ban Four Loko and other caffeinated alcohol drinks around the country. He said the FDA will rule that caffeine is an "unsafe food additive to alcoholic beverages," and noted that, "Last month, nine students passed out and were hospitalized after drinking Four Loko, leading states and universities across the country to issue ban, limit, or issue warnings about the drink." The New York Times reports one 19-year-old even suffered a heart attack after drinking it. As he was leaving the hospital his doctor told him, "Don't ever drink Four Loko again."

Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz has also been a member of the Four Loko opposition, and during an NBC 4 segment on an "underground Four Loko party," he decides to ~~encourage teens to make better choices through moderation~~ chug as much of the beverage as he can as fast as he can to prove its negative effects. After two and a half cans he is definitely intoxicated, his heart rate is 86 bpm and his blood pressure is 126 over 84. Shortly after, he starts vomiting. He told NBC, "This doesn't belong in our state and it doesn't belong in our country." Reportedly after a slice of pizza and some water, Ortiz felt better.

In our highly scientific poll, almost 82% of readers didn't think Four Loko should be banned. But just remember, as long as the FDA doesn't ban Jolly Ranchers, energy drinks, malt liquor and Sprite you can enjoy the delights of Four Loko right in your very home!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in Food on November 17, 2010 12:23 PM

Comments [rss]

Gepap

Its a pricing issue folks - Four Loko and similar drinks are very cheap - some of the cheapest ways to get alcohol in the market right now along with Malt Liquor (unless you go for grain alcohol, but who does that?) and because they are classified as "beer", they can be sold at grocery stores, unlike hard liquor. Unlike Malt Liquor though, their packeging is such that many clerks who might otherwise check and card kids won't because they might confuse them with regular energy drinks. Drinking vodka redbulls and such, which have the same effects, require you to either be at a bar, or to get Vodka, which is much harder for the underage and that reduces the appeal of such a drink for many teens simply looking for a buzz.

As for adults, these products have no redeeming value, and there is a difference between license and liberty. No one's life will end because they don't get to drink these things, and as we all know, adults can get their depresents and stimulants combined fix in other ways already. As for the makers of this stuff, they can try to make other shit to sell.

Charles

You've gotta be LOKO to drink a 4 LOKO. I wouldn't touch one with a fake hand lol.

TimSPC

I guess they'll just have to add the Five Hour Energy themselves.

jibbly

Yeah I don't get it. It's not too hard to mix those crazy energy drinks with vodka or other booze. And I think it's hilarious that they're saying alcohol by itself isn't dangerous, but add caffeine and taurine and crap to it suddenly makes it UNSAFE!

clafleche

News flash: banning one drink is not going to stop teenagers and/or idiots from binging.

Anyone stupid enough to drink so much of this that they end up in the hospital is going to find other stupid ways to put themselves in the hospital.

DanielJ

What a dumb thing for Ortiz to do. Do you prove vodka is bad for kids by chugging a quart of it? MODERATION, folks!

Nyctini11

Exactly!! If you chug that amount of anything, let alone such a syrupy sweet thing, i guarantee just about anyone would puke, those cans are pretty darn big too. Lotta liquid + chugging to quick = moron gagging