Four Loko and comparable beverages are unsafe according to FDA

The Food and Drug Administration has labeled Four Loko and comparable beverages as unsafe in reaction to public outrage. If makers do not change their merchandise, corporations that make drinks similar to Four Loko may face lawful action. An investigation into caffeine laced alcoholic drinks has been ongoing for over a year.

Already investigating Four Loko

Since November of 2009, a federal investigation of caffeinated alcoholic drinks had been already underway. The Washington Post reports the Four Loko is just one of these. The investigation of products from at least 30 companies was spurred by requests for investigation from several state attorneys general. Federal officials had to do something after many incidents occurred lately. Mixing caffeine and alcohol together is unsafe according to the FDA. This is why Phusion Projects Inc., which makes Four Loko, along with three other companies with comparable products were sent letters from the Food and Drug Administration. Fifteen days were given to the companies to remove the caffeine from their products. The FDA said legal action would happen if they didn't abide by this.

Calls for stop are making the company change

Washington state banned Four Loko on Friday. This had been done because a Central Washington University was admitted to a hospital a couple months ago after having drank Four Loko with some other drinks. However, Four Loko has additionally been implicated in other incidents, as outlined by the newest York Times. 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. These incidents aren't directly related to Four Loko at present. Numerous want to get it banned despite the fact that it may not necessarily be the culprit. 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.

Articles cited

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