FDA To Decide On Four Loko's Fate

The FDA is expected to reach a decision by Wednesday regarding whether or not alcoholic energy drinks like Four Loko are safe and should be legal, according to the New York Times.

At this point, it seems most likely that the Food and Drug Administration will issue a letter of warning to the infamous drink's manufacturers, Phusion Projects, telling them that the concoctions have been deemed unsafe. Once presented with the letter Phusion will have to decide whether to shut down, fight back or create a safer alternative to their current product.

Caffeinated alcoholic beverages have been in FDA review for one year, primarily because the potency and effect of the mixed drinks has not been thoroughly researched. Still, some scientists suggested early on that combining caffeine with alcohol is potentially harmful. As Wake Forest University professor Dr. Mary Claire O'Brien told the Times:

There's a particular interaction that goes on in the brain when they are consumed simultaneously. The addition of the caffeine impairs the ability of the drinker to tell when they're drunk. What is the level at which it becomes dangerous? We don't know that, and until we can figure it out, the answer is that no level is safe.

The FDA's urgency may be attributed to the rising number of states that have decided to ban the drink and the recent crop of Four Loko-related hospitalizations. Such cases prompted the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to urge the FDA to come to a conclusion - and fast.

Check out some reasons to stay away from Four Loko (and other like drinks) here. What do you think of the possible ban? Weigh in below.

Comments

[jenjen82]

12:11 AM on 11/19/2010

I had a problem with meth for a year of my life and was lucky to stop before it got my teeth and the rest of my life. I heard 4 loko's was being banned and decided to try it to see what the problem was....there IS a problem. I drank one can over a 3 hour period and it left me feeling worse than meth ever did (and meth left me feeling pretty bad sometimes). I had to do about 45 minutes of yoga to calm myself down--I was really about to take myself to the hospital because I did NOT like the way I felt. This stuff is dangerous---I'm an adult and was able to know my limits as I was drinking it. However, if I would have discovered this in High School--it would have been a SERIOUS problem. I would have loved the feeling and kept on and on which is the problem. I don't care what they say--this is aimed at teens/college students. I'm 28 and never even considered drinking it until I read an article about it but all college and High School students know about four-loko's. My personal opinion is that this drink is in the same category as crystal meth and should be considered DANGEROUS. I'm glad it's being banned--I'm mature enough to "just say no" but teens often DON'T say no!

[BlueSkyPilot]

05:33 AM on 11/17/2010

I guess the FDA never heard of "Irish Coffee" which has been around for about as long as there has been Whiskey and Coffee.

[benji85]

07:40 AM on 11/17/2010

Coffee doesn't have the same amount of caffeine as Four Loko, or other energy drinks used to mix with.

[cheeeeeeese]

03:06 AM on 11/17/2010

You don't need Four loko, just get some caffeine then mix it with alcohol. I call it MY LOKO.

[WhiteGlossy]

04:13 PM on 11/16/2010

We are big fans of Four Loko... so this is an odd one! Are they going to outlaw Vodka/red Bull too?!?! We even tested the Loko out... funny stuff! Check it - http://wp.me/p106i6-1t8

[skexie]

09:59 PM on 11/16/2010

I was thinking along those same lines the other day about Vodka/Red Bull drinks. Makes me wonder about liqueurs made with sources of caffeine, like Kahlua made from coffee.