Four Loko: Teens Are Loco for New Alcohol Energy Drink

By Chrissie Dziembowski

You may have heard of the newest caffeinated malt beverage on the market, Four Loko. This alcoholic drink is quickly gaining popularity, especially among teens--and it is easy to see why.

Four Loko, available in various fruit flavors including grape, orange, blue raspberry and watermelon, is sold in bright aluminum cans and prices per can start as low as $2. The 23.5 ounce cans contain 10%-12% alcohol--the equivalent of about 3 beers--combined with high amounts of caffeine. The exact amount of caffeine is undisclosed, though it is one of the four primary ingredients (hence the name "Four Loko"): caffeine, taurine, guarana and alcohol. Taurine and guarana are also stimulants.

What are the dangers of mixing alcohol and caffeine?

When alcohol is mixed with caffeine, it masks the effects/feelings/influence of the alcohol and sends mixed signals to the nervous system. Since one feels less intoxicated than they actually are, they are likely to consume more alcohol, leading to black outs, alcohol poisoning, and even death from overdose. Additionally, both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, therefore mixing them can cause dehydration. A dehydrated body is slow to process alcohol, and that can interfere with coordination, balance and ability to regulate body temperature. CBS News recently reported on the serious health implications of this dangerous combination, citing a Wake Forest University study which found college students who combine alcohol and caffeine are more likely to suffer alcohol-related injuries and accidents.

Legislators and public health officials are also taking action to prevent possible tragedies that could come from the Loko craze. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate the safety of the product as well as the manufacturer's marketing practices.

Locally, community organizers and politicians have been working to eradicate Four Loko since early summer. Rev. William Rocky Brown III, a candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, said that the new drink "is having our young people black out.” Nafis Nichols of Chester Youth Collaborative called it "legalized liquid cocaine."

Four Loko is considered an "alco-pop", an alcoholic beverage made with fruit juices and other flavorings which tend to conceal the alcohol content of the drink behind a sweet, fruity flavor. The colors, the flavors, the website, and the language used to market this product clearly targets teens, i.e. underage drinkers.

If you see your son or daughter is a fan of a Four Loko group on Facebook--which states in their information section: "mission: to get us all drunk :)"--or you find a neon can in the trash/in a picture/in a backpack--talk to your teen about the dangers of alcohol, especially when mixed with caffeine. Explain that they are the target for these products--and do they really want to be "told what to do"? Use the sites in the right sidebar for tips to start the discussion. You'll be glad you did!