Four Loko Rumored to be Banned

Four Loko as well as any caffeinated alcoholic beverages, including Joose, is reportedly being banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The official verdict should be passed out towards the end of this week. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, has been pushing for the drinks to be outlawed in the United States. He has been lobbying to the Obama Administration, claiming that the combination of alcohol and caffeine endangers the youth of our nation.

If you have never heard of Four Loko, it is a drink that is sold in a 24 ounce can for on average $2.50 a can. It has an alcoholic content of 12 percent and is equal to about four cans of beer in terms of its effects after consumption. The beverage comes in different flavors including watermelon, fruit punch, grape, lemonade and blue raspberry. It also comes in a colorful can for example red, yellow or blue.

The colorful display of Four Loko as well as the cheap price prompts opponents to argue that the company is aiming to appeal to the budget of an average college student. They state that the company also encourages underage drinking with its ability to produce the most “bang for the buck.”

Opponents of the popular brand of Four Loko have also stated that the mixture of caffeine and alcohol impairs individuals from realizing how drunk they are by masking the alcoholic effects with the energizing effects of caffeine. They have said that this allows individuals to believe that they are still able to drive which leads to drunk driving accidents as well as causes more injuries to individuals who are abnormally hyper after drinking the canned beverage.

There have already been multiple incidents of alcohol poisoning on college campuses across the country including Central Washington University and Wake Forest University. Some states including Washington, Utah, Michigan and Oregon have already made banned the drinks.

Proponents of the beverage have come out to say that the drink is no different from other alcoholic drinks and that it lies within individuals to be responsible in the consumption of Four Loko. The company also claims that it has no intention of targeting any certain age group and that they work hard to ensure the safety of its product.

What do you think? Is the ban good or do companies have the right to produce the drink in order to give consumers another unique option?