Blackout in a can or the beginning of a good night? This is the question that raves every young persons mind before they pop open a Four Loko. However, this fun drink has been causing a lot of controversy lately leading to a ban of this malt beverage in many states. Four Loko, which has an alcohol content of 12 percent and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee came under heavy scrutiny when students from Ramapo College, New Jersey and University in Ellensburg, Washington ended up in the emergency room with high levels of alcohol poisoning. Sounds like freshmen that don’t know their tolerance to me.. For $ 2.50 how can one go wrong? The appealing can, with a horrid taste will be off shelves by December 10th.
Four Loko is a rather poor tasting concoction designed for the purpose of making the imbiber intoxicated in a swift and cost-effective manner, while blunting the depressive effects of alcohol with caffeine. It is also the subject of a national hysteria—or at least, a Congressional hysteria. Like many people, I think Four Loko being a national political issue is a bit outrageous—but I am also a bit relieved.
One of the biggest issues is the appealing factor to underage drinkers (like you and I). Understandably the pretty colors on the can does appeal to young drinkers, but how they get their hands on them has nothing to do with Phusion Products. That is the problem of the bodega/store owners. Even though we can not shutdown every bodega in New York City, better checking of IDs would help. According to the Daily News “The agreements came after an undercover sting operation at 28 mom-and-pop stores in the Bronx last week led to four arrests for selling the booze-infused beverage to minors.”
Many people also seem to be invincible after a Four Loko thinking they can drink and drive. News flash America: drinking and then driving never meshed well.
The media definitely had a significant effect on the banning of this drink. The monstrous coverage definitely opened eyes of others in the dangers of this drink. Local politicans even joined the efford in showing the harms of Four Loko. Assemblyman Felix Ortiz offered to use himself as an example to show the harmful affects of Four Loko; props to the guy for drinking 2.5 cans of that in one hour. We all know how it ended though.. Now lets imagine an 18 drinking 2.5 cans in an hour. This is the stance that many people are trying to push for. Prevent underage drinking. Mr. Ortiz would not have used himself as an example if he did not feel so strongly about the issue.
Some people will still get their hands on Four Loko, just check Craigslist and you’ll find it for $8 a can. Luckily it’s only a 250%-300% mark-up but still cheaper than a handle, sounds like a bargain if you ask me. Although the media has had significant coverage on this, Criagslist does not seem to be getting the same scrutiny as Phusion Projects did for distributing the product. If underage drinkers could get their hands on them in bodegas, wouldn’t it be easier to buy them off Craigslist? If you plan on buying off Craigslist just give it a day or two, there’s bound to be a surplus!
