Look Out Four Loko! Make Room for Whipped Lightening!

The good news is the dangers of Four Loko have been addressed by the government, health professionals, the media and communities. The bad news is the wine and spirits business has moved on to...are you ready?...

Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream!

Yup. As in spiked Reddi-Whip. Whipped Lightening and Cream Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream are the newest cocktail garnishes to hit shelves. Here are some important facts you should know:

• These whipped creams are shelf stable and can be stored at room temperature up to 9-12 months
• Most flavors are 30+ proof and contain 15% or more alcohol by volume
• The cost runs around $13 per bottle, and Cream is available to order online
• The marketing is believed to be targeting young/underage consumers--Cream's Myspace page advised topping jello-shots with their whipped topping
• It is difficult to gage serving sizes, therefore one may not regulate how much of the product they are actually consuming

For more information check out Time Magazine's article on their Healthland page. We will keep you posted as the controversy continues!

We are Thankful for Parent Resources and Federal Action!

Happy Almost Thanksgiving! We at Holcomb are thankful for all the wonderful communities and people we are able to support and work with, and also for other helpful Prevention resources including....The Partnership for a Drug Free America's newest parent resource Time to Get Help!

This online community is "a first-of-its kind, multi-faceted, online resource for parents and caregivers who are seeking a community of support and advice on treatment options for a child who has a problem with drugs or alcohol."

Eleven million young people in America need help for substance abuse and addiction. Parents of these children often feel ashamed, worried, angry, overwhelmed and uncertain what to do. The Partnership at Drugfree.org listened and has created this resource to help parents gain a better understanding of teen and young adult alcohol and drug abuse, dependence and addiction; get support from experts and other parents who have been there; and help them find the right help for their child and family.

Are you a parent or caregiver of a teen or young adult struggling with a drug or alcohol problem? Then this site is for you. Here you’ll find learning experiences, expert guidance and support from parents and families who understand the challenges and emotions you may be facing.

Click HERE to visit Time to Get Help. You'll also notice a new link to blog Intervene: A Community for Parents on the right sidebar--check it out!

AND IN OTHER NEWS....FOUR LOKO UPDATE!

The FDA and FTC target alcoholic energy drinks! Keep reading for a summary on the latest news surrounding Four Loko from Join Together:

Advocates Urge State and Local Action on Alcoholic Energy Drinks

By Benjamin Chambers

Since three federal agencies acted together on Nov. 17 to shut down the manufacturing, marketing, and shipment of caffeinated alcoholic beverages -- popularly dubbed "blackout in a can" and linked to numerous injuries and fatalities-- you'd think that would be the end of the matter.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Treasury Department's Trade and Tax Bureau gave four manufacturers of the drinks 15 days to respond to the notices.

According to a Nov. 18 story in the Washington Post, three companies have already indicated they will comply. Phusion Projects, Ltd., the maker of Four Loko, said Nov. 16 that it would remove caffeine from its alcoholic beverages. United Brands Co., the maker of Joose, disagreed with the rulings but said it would obey them; Charge Beverages Corporation, which makes Core High Gravity, said it had already decided to stop making the drink. New Century Brewing did not respond.

Even so, alcohol policy advocates argued that more should be done at the state and local level - and fast. "It is unclear what action the federal government will take after the 15-day period, so enforcement will therefore need to come from state and local governments," said James F. Mosher, an alcohol policy consultant who has worked with several state and national public health groups on the issue. "Since the products have now been found illegal under federal law, all states now have the authority and responsibility to take immediate action."

Marin Institute, which has campaigned against alcoholic energy drinks since 2007, issued a press release praising federal action and calling on state governments to ban the drinks. "State-level product bans will continue to be necessary to get the products off of store shelves," said Michele Simon, who directs research and policy at the institute. "States are the primary regulators of alcoholic beverages and have full authority to ban alcoholic energy drinks whether by regulatory or legislative action, or through attorney general enforcement."

Several states have already banned or moved to limit the drinks, including Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington.

The same day the FDA issued its announcement, the California Department of Public Health notified the beverage industry that under state law, "the manufacturing, sale, delivery, holding or offering for sale of adulterated food is a crime. Violation of this provision can result in suspension or revocation of your license or registration, civil penalties, and/or criminal penalties that upon conviction could result in a sentence of up to one year in jail and a one thousand dollar fine for each violation."

On Nov. 18, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission announced that it was prohibiting the sale of alcoholic energy drinks, effective immediately. "This means that alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine as an added ingredient, including Four Loko, must be removed from store shelves in Massachusetts today," officials wrote. Vendors there are now prohibited from "selling, storing, importing or transporting" the drinks; the commission directed wholesalers to pick up retaining stock from retailers.

Other states may follow suit. Advocates are now looking to state governors, health departments, attorneys general, and alcohol regulators to put pressure on wholesalers, retailers, and distributors to get the drinks off the market.

"If we don't act quickly, there may be a run on the products at the retail level, elevating the risks to young people," Mosher said.

Four Loko Update and Facts!

Four Loko has been making headlines in local and national news including reports of alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, and in an instance in Florida, death.


Locally, State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown (Phila.) is planning on introducing legislation to ban alcoholic energy drinks. See her press release below PLUS facts about Four Loko provided by the Council of Southeast Pennsylvania.

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, D-Phila, said she will introduce legislation next term that would ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks that have sickened some throughout the country, particularly college students.

"We are seeing more and more circumstantial evidence that these products, which have earned nicknames such as 'liquid cocaine' and 'blackout in a can,' are dangerous," Lowery Brown said. "Combining alcohol and caffeine leads to people who don't realize how drunk they are, and the outcome could be tragic."

Jerry W. Waters Sr., the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's regulatory affairs director, recently asked retailers to voluntarily halt the sale of alcoholic energy drinks until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can determine if they are safe.

Lowery Brown noted that Ramapo College in New Jersey banned all caffeinated alcoholic beverages from campus, and nine Central Washington University freshmen were hospitalized after consuming the drinks at an off-campus party.

"These beverages are being sought out as a quick and inexpensive means of becoming intoxicated and are being marketed as such, sadly at the expense of the consumer’s own health and welfare, Lowery Brown said. "They are very popular with young people, and they are being consumed by inner-city working folks as well as college students. It's time to take a proactive approach here in Pennsylvania before there is a tragedy."

FACTS ABOUT FOUR LOKO

What is it?

• Four Loko is an alcohol/energy drink produced by Phusion Projects Inc.


• Developed by three alumni of Ohio State University in 2005


• Available in eight flavors


• Sold in the US as a 23.5 oz product in aluminum can


• Contains 12% alcohol


• Also contains: caffeine, carbonation, sugar, and natural and artificial flavoring


• As well as: Taurine, Guarana and Wormwood--Wormwood is an active ingredient in absinthe


• Its name is derived from the combination of the “four main” ingredients
  

Where is it sold?

• There are 28 locations within a 10 mile radius of Doylestown, PA that sell this product, most are retailers that only sell alcohol.
• In some states that allow sales of alcohol in convenience stores, it is located in the same cooler as Red Bull and Monster; many clerks do not even realize it contains alcohol

The Problem:

• It looks like an energy drink, tastes like an energy drink and is viewed by youth and young adults as an energy drink with alcohol as an added “bonus”


• It is not recommended to mix stimulants (caffeine) with depressants (alcohol)


• Studies show people put themselves in high risk situations when alert and intoxicated at the same time due to not feeling “drunk”


• One can is the equivalent to the alcohol content of four bottles of beer, the caffeine levels of three 8 oz. cups of coffee, and the sugar content of one king size Kit Kat bar


• It has been termed “liquid cocaine” by the media


• There are currently 165 Facebook sites dedicated to the promotion of Four Loko