Four Loko subject of federal crackdown

Within the wake of controversy, Four Loko and comparable alcoholic drinks with caffeine are labeled unsafe by the Food and Drug Administration. If makers do not change their goods, corporations that make beverages comparable to Four Loko may face legal action. It’s not an entirely recent phenomenon either. Caffeinated alcoholic beverages have been placed under investigation for over a year.

Four Loko already under investigation

Since November of 2009, a federal investigation of caffeinated alcoholic drinks was already underway. The Washington Post reports that the Four Loko is just one of these. Some state attorney general requested that an investigation happen beginning an investigation of products from 30 companies. However, a string of recent incidents caused federal officials to make a change. Letters were issued by the FDA to four companies that make seven comparable products — including Phusion Projects Inc., which makes Four Loko — that mixing caffeine and alcohol is not approved by the FDA and had been classified as unsafe. Unless the companies want to fight in court, the FDA has given them 15 days to remove caffeine from their products.

Stopping what is going on

A couple of months ago, various students from Central Washington University were admitted to a hospital after consuming Four Loko along with other drinks, and Four Loko had been subsequently banned in Washington state, effective Friday. Other incidents included Four Loko too. This is what the brand new York Times reports. In Florida, an 18-year old drank Four Loko and took some diet pills just to die. In Tennessee a 20-year-old drank Four Loko and committed suicide with gunshot. Most are saying Four Loko needs to be permanently banned despite the fact that Four Loko might not necessarily been the reason why this incidents happened. The caffeine will no longer be put in these drinks as outlined by a Phusion announcement.

Now there are bans

Obviously it isn't at all safe for people to be drinking a mixture of alcohol and caffeine. This is why Michigan and Washington state have both banned all products like Four Loko while New York State is on its way to the same thing.

Citations

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/17/AR2010111702634.html?hpid=topnews

NY Times

nytimes.com/2010/11/18/us/18drinks.html