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Four Loko

January 01, 1970

Four Loko is a line of alcoholic beverages sold by Phusion Projects of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Four Loko's recipe formerly included caffeine. Phusion operates as Drink Four Brewing Company.[1] Four Loko, the company's most popular beverage, debuted in the United States market in 2005 and is available in 49 states, and in 21 countries including Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, The Bahamas, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, China, Canada and some countries in Europe.[2] The name "Four" is derived from the original drink having four "key ingredients".[3]

Four Loko
TypeMalt beverage
Country of origin United States
Introduced2005; 19 years ago (2005)
Alcohol by volume 6–13.9
FlavorVarious
Related productsTilt, Joose, Sparks
Websitefourloko.com

Four branded products have been the object of legal, ethical, and health concerns related to the company allegedly marketing them to underage drinkers and the danger of combining alcohol and caffeine.[1] After the beverage was banned in several states, a product reintroduction in December 2010 removed caffeine, taurine, and guarana as ingredients, and the malt beverage is no longer marketed as an energy drink.[4][5]

History edit

Phusion Projects was founded in 2005 by Chris Hunter, Jaisen Freeman and Jeff Wright after graduating from Ohio State University.[6] As students they were active members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and many of their original drink blends were created in the fraternity mansion's basement and party room.[6] They had enjoyed caffeine mixed with alcohol, and recalled buying Thai energy drinks from a nearby Asian market to sell to other students at a markup, claiming that they were "importing the stuff from abroad". They would later describe themselves as "our own target market".[6]

In 2005, the entrepreneurial team designed a prototype "energy beer" now known as Four Loko. Marketed as a "premium malt beverage" in cherry and berry flavors, the drink contained taurine, guarana, caffeine and wormwood—the supposed psychoactive ingredient of absinthe.[6] After a year, the company was running low on investment and decided to drop the wormwood, focusing instead on improving the flavor and increasing the alcohol content.[6]

By 2008 the product had become popular and a variety of flavors were introduced into the US market.[6] At the start of 2009, the beverage was becoming successful and began to be marketed internationally. In 2010, caffeine, guarana, and taurine were removed from the drink. In October 2010 a new flavor called Lemon Lime was first produced. In 2022 a new flavor called Sour Cosmic Punch was introduced, as part of a collaboration with the Warheads brand of sour candy.

Products edit

Four Loko contains carbonated water, sugar, and natural and artificial flavoring including FD&C Red 40. The drink is sold at 6%, 7%, 8%, 10%,12%, 13.9% or 14% alcohol by volume (ABV), depending on state regulations, and is packaged in 23.5 oz (695 mL) cans.

Current flavors edit

Source:[7]

  • Electric Lemonade
  • Blue Razz
  • Cosmic Sour Punch (Warheads flavor)
  • Sour Grape
  • Red (Swedish Fish flavor)
  • Black (Lime flavor)
  • Fruit Punch
  • Gold (Energy Drink flavor)
  • Grape
  • Peach
  • Sour Apple
  • Strawberry Lemonade
  • Watermelon
  • U.S.A. (Sour Black Cherry)

Discontinued flavors edit

  • Uva Berry (Grape flavor)
  • Blue Hurricane (Tropical flavor)
  • Mango
  • Orange
  • Coco Loko (Coconut flavor)
  • Lemonade
  • Lemon-Lime
  • Margarita
  • Pineapple
  • Cranberry Lemonade
  • Black Cherry
  • Hemp
  • Blaze
  • Frost

In early 2011, Phusion Projects introduced its Four Loko XXX Limited Edition line, which featured a new flavor of Four Loko every few months, including:

  • Blueberry Lemonade
  • Strawberry Lemonade
  • Blue Raspberry
  • Green Apple

In the summer of 2011, Phusion introduced 12 oz (350 mL) glass bottles of Four Loko, that came in packs of six and had 8% ABV as opposed to 12%. Flavors included:

  • Lemonade
  • Fruit Punch
  • Watermelon

Bottles came in packs of six and in September 2011, Phusion introduced 16 oz (475 mL) cans of their drink in hi-cone four packs known as Four Poco Loko, with 8% ABV and included flavors:

  • Black cherry
  • Mango
  • Lemonade
  • Green apple

Original formulations of both beverages were a malt liquor based, caffeinated alcoholic energy drink with added guarana and taurine.

In 2008, Phusion Projects began selling their products in Canada and Europe. The European version of Four MaXed is sold in 8.3 oz (250 mL) glass bottles and aluminum cans and is spirit-based; the United States version has a malt liquor base.

In 2009, Four Loko ranked fourth in sales growth among alcoholic beverages at 7-Eleven stores in the United States.[citation needed]

On November 16, 2010, Phusion Projects issued a press release announcing that the company would be reformulating all Four brand beverages to remove caffeine, guarana, and taurine from the products.[8] The new product was reintroduced in January 2011.[4]

On October 25, 2013, Four Loko was distributed for the first time in Puerto Rico. Four Loko kept the standard 12% alcohol but in a reduced can size of 16 oz (475 mL), and with only three flavors: [citation needed]

  • Grape
  • Fruit Punch
  • Watermelon

In August 2016, Four Loko began selling in China. Secondary marketer Taobao claimed to still have for purchase the caffeinated version of the beverage. Four Loko has since seen market growth in Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia and Singapore.

In February 2017, Four Loko announced the release of two new product lines—the Bold Series and the Bartender Series.

The Four Loko Bold Series[9] comes in 24 oz. cans at 14% ABV, and includes the flavors:

  • Blaze
  • Frost

Four Loko Bartender Series[10] came in 16 oz. cans and containing 10% ABV, and includes the flavors:

  • Blue Mofo
  • Purple Hooter
  • Pink Scorpion

In April 2017, Four Loko announced a line of hard liquor called Four Loko Shots that come in 750 ml bottles and are 70 proof (35% ABV).[11] Flavors include:

  • Dragon’s Breath
  • Green Tornado
  • Screwball

In October 2020 Four Loko announced a line of bottled 13.9% ABV shots called Four Loko Pregame.[12] Flavors include:

  • Sour Blue Razz
  • Lemonade
  • Sour Peach

Restrictions on sale edit

See also: Ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks in the United States

In 2009, a group of U.S. state attorneys general began investigations of companies that produced and sold caffeinated alcohol beverages on the grounds that they were being inappropriately marketed to a teenage audience and that they had possible health risks (blackouts).[13] The attorneys general were also concerned that these drinks could pose health risks by masking feelings of intoxication.[14] In December 2008, Anheuser-Busch, manufacturer of Tilt and Bud Extra, as well as MillerCoors, manufacturer of Sparks, agreed to reformulate their drinks.[1] In 2009, smaller companies such as Phusion fell under investigation because of their rise in market share.[1]

The drink came under major fire in 2010, as colleges and universities across the United States began to see injuries and blackouts related to the drink's misuse. The University of Rhode Island banned the drink from their campus on November 5, 2010.[15] The state of Washington banned Four Loko after nine university students aged 17 to 19 from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington became ill at a house party in Roslyn, Washington. The students were hospitalized with blood alcohol levels ranging from 0.12 to 0.35 percent (0.30 percent being considered potentially lethal), and one student almost died according to CWU President James L. Gaudino.[16]

In October 2010, following the hospitalization of seventeen students and six visitors, Ramapo College of New Jersey banned the possession and consumption of Four Loko on its campus.[17] As a result, Worcester State University stopped the sale of all energy drinks and they, as well as Boston College, informed their students of the risks involved in consuming Four Loko. By November 2010, dozens of other colleges and universities sent out notices informing their students to avoid the drink,[18][19] while several more placed outright bans on their campuses.[15]

The Daily Collegian, Penn State's student newspaper, reported that on November 1, 2010 the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board sent letters to all liquor stores urging distributors to discontinue the sale of the drink. The PLCB also sent letters to all colleges and universities warning them of the dangers of the drink.[20] While the board stopped short of a ban, it asked retailers to stop selling the drink until U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) findings prove they are safe. Pennsylvania State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown, sought to introduce legislation to ban alcoholic energy drinks in the state.[21]

Several stores, including ShopRite Super Markets, Tops Markets, Price Chopper and Wegmans voluntarily pulled the product from their shelves.[22][23] Shortly after, then-Governor of New York David Paterson announced that Phusion was withdrawing the beverage from the state of New York as of November 19, 2010.[24][25]

On November 20, 2010, Oregon Liquor Control Commission's five citizen commissioners held an emergency meeting resulting in a 4-1 vote on the ban. The ban became effective immediately and was in effect until May 18, 2011.[26] The ban required businesses to cease the sale of alcoholic energy drinks and withdraw existing items immediately. The sale of the restricted products during this period carried a penalty of 30-day suspension of liquor license.[27]

Utah, which has a state-run alcoholic beverage distribution system, did not allow the sale of alcoholic energy drinks.[28] Michigan and Oklahoma voted to ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks over health and safety concerns.[29][30] Additionally, the Washington State Liquor Control Board voted to ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks, which went into effect on November 18, 2010. The vote came as a result of the incident at Central Washington University.[31] The New York State Liquor Authority banned their sale and distribution as of November 19, 2010. New York senator Chuck Schumer and New York City councilman James Sanders Jr. approached the Obama administration to ban Four Loko across the state of New York.[32]

FDA warning edit

On November 17, 2010 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages citing that the caffeine added to their malt alcoholic beverages is an "unsafe food additive" and said that further action, including seizure of their products, could be taken under federal law.[33] It declared that beverages that combine caffeine with alcohol, such as Four Loko energy drinks, were a "public health concern" and could not stay on the market in their current form.[34][35] The FDA also stated that concerns had been raised that caffeine can mask some of the sensory cues individuals might normally rely on to determine their level of intoxication. Warning letters were issued to each of the four companies requiring them, within 15 days, to provide to the FDA, in writing, the specific steps the firms will be taking.

The four companies that received the warning letter were:

  • Charge Beverages Corp.: Core High Gravity HG, Core High Gravity HG Orange, and Lemon Lime Core Spiked
  • New Century Brewing Co., LLC: Moonshot
  • Phusion Projects, LLC (doing business as Drink Four Brewing Co.): Four Loko
  • United Brands Company Inc.: Joose and Max

Post-ban edit

From weeks before the FDA ruling, many drinkers and people seeking financial gain purchased large quantities of the drink,[36] which created a black market, with many sellers charging nearly five times the normal retail price.[37] Four Loko appeared on Craigslist, and "collectible" cans of the drink were being sold on eBay.[38]

In late December 2010, a reformulated version of the drink was put on shelves. The new product packaging had exactly the same appearance as the original, but the caffeine, guarana, and taurine from the original drink had been removed and food coloring agent Red 40 was added.[39] Sales of the original drink continued, usually for a price of roughly $3 per 24 ounce can.[40]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Hughlett, Mike (August 24, 2009). . Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  2. ^ Schelle, Charles (April 14, 2006). . The Ball State Daily News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  3. ^ Builder, Maxine (August 8, 2018). "The Oral History of Four Loko in New York". from the original on August 13, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Djegal, Philippe (April 24, 2012). . Coachella Valley, California: KESQ-TV. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  5. ^ Kranc, Lauren (November 17, 2020). "Four Loko Is Still Cemented in Drinking Legend 10 Years After It Cut Out the Caffeine". Esquire. from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Cheshes, Jay (April 21, 2011). . The Fix. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  7. ^ "Four Loko Products". Four Loko. October 21, 2021. from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  8. ^ (Press release). Chicago, Illinois: Phusion Projects. November 16, 2010. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  9. ^ Phusion Projects LLC. "Four Loko Introduces New 'Bold Series'" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  10. ^ Phusion Projects LLC. "Four Loko Unveils New Bartender Series" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  11. ^ Phusion Projects LLC. "Four Loko Calls 'Shots' With New Spirits" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  12. ^ Salaky, Kristin (October 26, 2020). "Four Loko Is Making Bottled Shots Now And They Have A 13.9% ABV". Delish. from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  13. ^ Bryant, Steve (August 24, 2009). "Chi-based Malt Liquor Energy Drink Maker Investigated". NBC Chicago. from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  14. ^ Kesmodel, David (July 17, 2009). "Drinks With a Jolt Draw New Scrutiny". The New York Times. from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Zaman, Hania (November 5, 2010). . College Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
  16. ^ Dininny, Shannon (October 25, 2010). "Four Loko Sickened Several Central Washington University Students". Huffington Post. from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  17. ^ Economopoulos, Sofia. "New Jersey school forbids Four Loko". The Cavalier Daily. from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  18. ^ University, Northeastern. "Updated: Friday, October 29th, 2010 To All Northeastern Students-". from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  19. ^ Ostrowsky, Jon (November 9, 2010). "Drug, alcohol committee formed following Pachanga events". from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  20. ^ Geiger, Zach (November 9, 2010). . Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  21. ^ Boselovic, Len (November 7, 2010). "Alcoholic, caffeinated drinks in the cross hairs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  22. ^ Ross, Shannon (November 10, 2010). "Local stores pull Four Loko off shelves". WIVB-TV. from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  23. ^ McGrath, Chris (November 10, 2010). "Wegmans pulls Four Loko from store shelves". cnycentral.com. from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  24. ^ Redwine, Tina (November 14, 2010). . NY1. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  25. ^ Shine, Kelly (November 16, 2010). "Four Loko Banned in New York State". Quadrangle. Manhattan College. from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  26. ^ "OLCC Commissioners ban Alcoholic Energy Drinks in Oregon" (PDF) (Press release). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Liquor Control Commission. November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  27. ^ Official Notification (PDF), Oregon Liquor Control Commission, November 22, 2010, (PDF) from the original on July 19, 2011, retrieved November 24, 2010
  28. ^ Evensen, Jay (October 27, 2010). "Utah a step ahead on Four Loko". Deseret News. from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  29. ^ Lockwood, Heather (November 4, 2010). "Controversial alcohol energy drinks to be banned in Michigan". The Ann Arbor News. from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  30. ^ Colberg, Sonya (November 9, 2010). "Oklahoma panel bans deliveries of Four Loko after Dec. 3". The Oklahomian. from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  31. ^ Yuan, Teresa (November 10, 2010). . King 5 News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  32. ^ "Under Pressure, Four Loko Opts To Eliminate Caffeine". CBS New York. November 16, 2010. from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  33. ^ "FDA Warning Letters issued to four makers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages". Food and Drug Administration. November 17, 2010. from the original on February 26, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  34. ^ "FDA calls 7 caffeine-alcohol drinks unsafe". CNN. November 17, 2010. from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  35. ^ Beato, Greg (March 30, 2010). "Too Much Fun". Reason (April 2010). from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  36. ^ Schapiro, Rich (November 17, 2010). "Partyers rush to stock up on Four Loko before it gets pulled from shelves after FDA says it's unsafe". Daily News. New York. from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  37. ^ Lowery, Wesley (December 9, 2010). "Four Loko still available, at premium prices". The Columbus Dispatch. from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  38. ^ . Convenience Store News. Columbus, Ohio. December 8, 2010. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  39. ^ "Reformulated Four Loko beverage is back on the shelves". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 22, 2010.
  40. ^ Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. "Four Loko Cheap But Potentially Harmful Buzz". Miami, Florida: The Miami Hurricane. from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.

Further reading edit

  • Jenkins, Billiam (November 24, 2010). "Loco Over Four Loko". Reason.

January 01, 1970
four, loko, line, alcoholic, beverages, sold, phusion, projects, chicago, illinois, united, states, recipe, formerly, included, caffeine, phusion, operates, drink, four, brewing, company, company, most, popular, beverage, debuted, united, states, market, 2005,. Four Loko is a line of alcoholic beverages sold by Phusion Projects of Chicago Illinois United States Four Loko s recipe formerly included caffeine Phusion operates as Drink Four Brewing Company 1 Four Loko the company s most popular beverage debuted in the United States market in 2005 and is available in 49 states and in 21 countries including Ecuador Guatemala Paraguay The Bahamas Peru Mexico Colombia Bolivia Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica China Canada and some countries in Europe 2 The name Four is derived from the original drink having four key ingredients 3 Four LokoTypeMalt beverageCountry of origin United StatesIntroduced2005 19 years ago 2005 Alcohol by volume 6 13 9FlavorVariousRelated productsTilt Joose SparksWebsitefourloko wbr com Four branded products have been the object of legal ethical and health concerns related to the company allegedly marketing them to underage drinkers and the danger of combining alcohol and caffeine 1 After the beverage was banned in several states a product reintroduction in December 2010 removed caffeine taurine and guarana as ingredients and the malt beverage is no longer marketed as an energy drink 4 5 Contents 1 History 2 Products 2 1 Current flavors 2 2 Discontinued flavors 3 Restrictions on sale 4 FDA warning 5 Post ban 6 References 7 Further readingHistory editPhusion Projects was founded in 2005 by Chris Hunter Jaisen Freeman and Jeff Wright after graduating from Ohio State University 6 As students they were active members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and many of their original drink blends were created in the fraternity mansion s basement and party room 6 They had enjoyed caffeine mixed with alcohol and recalled buying Thai energy drinks from a nearby Asian market to sell to other students at a markup claiming that they were importing the stuff from abroad They would later describe themselves as our own target market 6 In 2005 the entrepreneurial team designed a prototype energy beer now known as Four Loko Marketed as a premium malt beverage in cherry and berry flavors the drink contained taurine guarana caffeine and wormwood the supposed psychoactive ingredient of absinthe 6 After a year the company was running low on investment and decided to drop the wormwood focusing instead on improving the flavor and increasing the alcohol content 6 By 2008 the product had become popular and a variety of flavors were introduced into the US market 6 At the start of 2009 the beverage was becoming successful and began to be marketed internationally In 2010 caffeine guarana and taurine were removed from the drink In October 2010 a new flavor called Lemon Lime was first produced In 2022 a new flavor called Sour Cosmic Punch was introduced as part of a collaboration with the Warheads brand of sour candy Products editFour Loko contains carbonated water sugar and natural and artificial flavoring including FD amp C Red 40 The drink is sold at 6 7 8 10 12 13 9 or 14 alcohol by volume ABV depending on state regulations and is packaged in 23 5 oz 695 mL cans Current flavors edit Source 7 Electric Lemonade Blue Razz Cosmic Sour Punch Warheads flavor Sour Grape Red Swedish Fish flavor Black Lime flavor Fruit Punch Gold Energy Drink flavor Grape Peach Sour Apple Strawberry Lemonade Watermelon U S A Sour Black Cherry Discontinued flavors edit Uva Berry Grape flavor Blue Hurricane Tropical flavor Mango Orange Coco Loko Coconut flavor Lemonade Lemon Lime Margarita Pineapple Cranberry Lemonade Black Cherry Hemp Blaze Frost In early 2011 Phusion Projects introduced its Four Loko XXX Limited Edition line which featured a new flavor of Four Loko every few months including Blueberry Lemonade Strawberry Lemonade Blue Raspberry Green Apple In the summer of 2011 Phusion introduced 12 oz 350 mL glass bottles of Four Loko that came in packs of six and had 8 ABV as opposed to 12 Flavors included Lemonade Fruit Punch Watermelon Bottles came in packs of six and in September 2011 Phusion introduced 16 oz 475 mL cans of their drink in hi cone four packs known as Four Poco Loko with 8 ABV and included flavors Black cherry Mango Lemonade Green apple Original formulations of both beverages were a malt liquor based caffeinated alcoholic energy drink with added guarana and taurine In 2008 Phusion Projects began selling their products in Canada and Europe The European version of Four MaXed is sold in 8 3 oz 250 mL glass bottles and aluminum cans and is spirit based the United States version has a malt liquor base In 2009 Four Loko ranked fourth in sales growth among alcoholic beverages at 7 Eleven stores in the United States citation needed On November 16 2010 Phusion Projects issued a press release announcing that the company would be reformulating all Four brand beverages to remove caffeine guarana and taurine from the products 8 The new product was reintroduced in January 2011 4 On October 25 2013 Four Loko was distributed for the first time in Puerto Rico Four Loko kept the standard 12 alcohol but in a reduced can size of 16 oz 475 mL and with only three flavors citation needed Grape Fruit Punch Watermelon In August 2016 Four Loko began selling in China Secondary marketer Taobao claimed to still have for purchase the caffeinated version of the beverage Four Loko has since seen market growth in Vietnam Malaysia Mongolia and Singapore In February 2017 Four Loko announced the release of two new product lines the Bold Series and the Bartender Series The Four Loko Bold Series 9 comes in 24 oz cans at 14 ABV and includes the flavors Blaze Frost Four Loko Bartender Series 10 came in 16 oz cans and containing 10 ABV and includes the flavors Blue Mofo Purple Hooter Pink Scorpion In April 2017 Four Loko announced a line of hard liquor called Four Loko Shots that come in 750 ml bottles and are 70 proof 35 ABV 11 Flavors include Dragon s Breath Green Tornado Screwball In October 2020 Four Loko announced a line of bottled 13 9 ABV shots called Four Loko Pregame 12 Flavors include Sour Blue Razz Lemonade Sour PeachRestrictions on sale editSee also Ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks in the United States In 2009 a group of U S state attorneys general began investigations of companies that produced and sold caffeinated alcohol beverages on the grounds that they were being inappropriately marketed to a teenage audience and that they had possible health risks blackouts 13 The attorneys general were also concerned that these drinks could pose health risks by masking feelings of intoxication 14 In December 2008 Anheuser Busch manufacturer of Tilt and Bud Extra as well as MillerCoors manufacturer of Sparks agreed to reformulate their drinks 1 In 2009 smaller companies such as Phusion fell under investigation because of their rise in market share 1 The drink came under major fire in 2010 as colleges and universities across the United States began to see injuries and blackouts related to the drink s misuse The University of Rhode Island banned the drink from their campus on November 5 2010 15 The state of Washington banned Four Loko after nine university students aged 17 to 19 from Central Washington University in Ellensburg Washington became ill at a house party in Roslyn Washington The students were hospitalized with blood alcohol levels ranging from 0 12 to 0 35 percent 0 30 percent being considered potentially lethal and one student almost died according to CWU President James L Gaudino 16 In October 2010 following the hospitalization of seventeen students and six visitors Ramapo College of New Jersey banned the possession and consumption of Four Loko on its campus 17 As a result Worcester State University stopped the sale of all energy drinks and they as well as Boston College informed their students of the risks involved in consuming Four Loko By November 2010 dozens of other colleges and universities sent out notices informing their students to avoid the drink 18 19 while several more placed outright bans on their campuses 15 The Daily Collegian Penn State s student newspaper reported that on November 1 2010 the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board sent letters to all liquor stores urging distributors to discontinue the sale of the drink The PLCB also sent letters to all colleges and universities warning them of the dangers of the drink 20 While the board stopped short of a ban it asked retailers to stop selling the drink until U S Food and Drug Administration FDA findings prove they are safe Pennsylvania State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown sought to introduce legislation to ban alcoholic energy drinks in the state 21 Several stores including ShopRite Super Markets Tops Markets Price Chopper and Wegmans voluntarily pulled the product from their shelves 22 23 Shortly after then Governor of New York David Paterson announced that Phusion was withdrawing the beverage from the state of New York as of November 19 2010 24 25 On November 20 2010 Oregon Liquor Control Commission s five citizen commissioners held an emergency meeting resulting in a 4 1 vote on the ban The ban became effective immediately and was in effect until May 18 2011 26 The ban required businesses to cease the sale of alcoholic energy drinks and withdraw existing items immediately The sale of the restricted products during this period carried a penalty of 30 day suspension of liquor license 27 Utah which has a state run alcoholic beverage distribution system did not allow the sale of alcoholic energy drinks 28 Michigan and Oklahoma voted to ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks over health and safety concerns 29 30 Additionally the Washington State Liquor Control Board voted to ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks which went into effect on November 18 2010 The vote came as a result of the incident at Central Washington University 31 The New York State Liquor Authority banned their sale and distribution as of November 19 2010 New York senator Chuck Schumer and New York City councilman James Sanders Jr approached the Obama administration to ban Four Loko across the state of New York 32 FDA warning editOn November 17 2010 the U S Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages citing that the caffeine added to their malt alcoholic beverages is an unsafe food additive and said that further action including seizure of their products could be taken under federal law 33 It declared that beverages that combine caffeine with alcohol such as Four Loko energy drinks were a public health concern and could not stay on the market in their current form 34 35 The FDA also stated that concerns had been raised that caffeine can mask some of the sensory cues individuals might normally rely on to determine their level of intoxication Warning letters were issued to each of the four companies requiring them within 15 days to provide to the FDA in writing the specific steps the firms will be taking The four companies that received the warning letter were Charge Beverages Corp Core High Gravity HG Core High Gravity HG Orange and Lemon Lime Core Spiked New Century Brewing Co LLC Moonshot Phusion Projects LLC doing business as Drink Four Brewing Co Four Loko United Brands Company Inc Joose and MaxPost ban editFrom weeks before the FDA ruling many drinkers and people seeking financial gain purchased large quantities of the drink 36 which created a black market with many sellers charging nearly five times the normal retail price 37 Four Loko appeared on Craigslist and collectible cans of the drink were being sold on eBay 38 In late December 2010 a reformulated version of the drink was put on shelves The new product packaging had exactly the same appearance as the original but the caffeine guarana and taurine from the original drink had been removed and food coloring agent Red 40 was added 39 Sales of the original drink continued usually for a price of roughly 3 per 24 ounce can 40 References edit a b c d Hughlett Mike August 24 2009 Caffeinated alcoholic drinks stir up legal concerns Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on April 25 2013 Retrieved May 29 2010 Schelle Charles April 14 2006 Horny hyper and happy That s what most people want to feel when they drink alcohol right The unofficial slogan is what the makers of Four hope for The Ball State Daily News Archived from the original on November 25 2010 Retrieved May 29 2010 Builder Maxine August 8 2018 The Oral History of Four Loko in New York Archived from the original on August 13 2018 a b Djegal Philippe April 24 2012 Four Loko Back on Shelves Alcoholic Energy Drink No Longer Contains Caffeine In a more recent attempt to increase sales and popularity with the younger latino croud Four loko came out with its Gold flavor created and produced in Brazil Coachella Valley California KESQ TV Archived from the original on December 7 2013 Retrieved July 13 2011 Kranc Lauren November 17 2020 Four Loko Is Still Cemented in Drinking Legend 10 Years After It Cut Out the Caffeine Esquire Archived from the original on April 8 2021 Retrieved March 7 2021 a b c d e f Cheshes Jay April 21 2011 Meet the Frat Boys Behind Four Loko America s Most Hated Beer The Fix Archived from the original on April 29 2011 Retrieved July 15 2014 Four Loko Products Four Loko October 21 2021 Archived from the original on October 10 2019 Retrieved October 10 2019 Phusion Projects to Remove Caffeine Guarana and Taurine from Products Press release Chicago Illinois Phusion Projects November 16 2010 Archived from the original on August 6 2013 Retrieved November 24 2010 Phusion Projects LLC Four Loko Introduces New Bold Series Press release PR Newswire Retrieved June 20 2017 Phusion Projects LLC Four Loko Unveils New Bartender Series Press release PR Newswire Retrieved March 30 2018 Phusion Projects LLC Four Loko Calls Shots With New Spirits Press release PR Newswire Retrieved June 20 2017 Salaky Kristin October 26 2020 Four Loko Is Making Bottled Shots Now And They Have A 13 9 ABV Delish Archived from the original on January 17 2021 Retrieved December 27 2020 Bryant Steve August 24 2009 Chi based Malt Liquor Energy Drink Maker Investigated NBC Chicago Archived from the original on August 26 2023 Retrieved May 29 2010 Kesmodel David July 17 2009 Drinks With a Jolt Draw New Scrutiny The New York Times Archived from the original on September 13 2017 Retrieved May 29 2010 a b Zaman Hania November 5 2010 Four Loko drink banned in Student Handbook College Times Archived from the original on July 15 2011 Dininny Shannon October 25 2010 Four Loko Sickened Several Central Washington University Students Huffington Post Archived from the original on August 26 2023 Retrieved November 18 2010 Economopoulos Sofia New Jersey school forbids Four Loko The Cavalier Daily Archived from the original on October 29 2010 Retrieved October 26 2010 University Northeastern Updated Friday October 29th 2010 To All Northeastern Students Archived from the original on November 16 2010 Retrieved November 8 2010 Ostrowsky Jon November 9 2010 Drug alcohol committee formed following Pachanga events Archived from the original on September 14 2011 Retrieved November 9 2010 Geiger Zach November 9 2010 PLCB urges caution with Four Loko Archived from the original on November 9 2010 Retrieved November 9 2010 Boselovic Len November 7 2010 Alcoholic caffeinated drinks in the cross hairs Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archived from the original on December 20 2010 Retrieved November 8 2010 Ross Shannon November 10 2010 Local stores pull Four Loko off shelves WIVB TV Archived from the original on September 10 2012 Retrieved November 10 2010 McGrath Chris November 10 2010 Wegmans pulls Four Loko from store shelves cnycentral com Archived from the original on July 19 2011 Retrieved November 10 2010 Redwine Tina November 14 2010 Alcoholic Energy Drinks To Be Phased Out Of New York NY1 Archived from the original on November 26 2010 Retrieved November 14 2010 Shine Kelly November 16 2010 Four Loko Banned in New York State Quadrangle Manhattan College Archived from the original on November 23 2010 Retrieved November 18 2010 OLCC Commissioners ban Alcoholic Energy Drinks in Oregon PDF Press release Portland Oregon Oregon Liquor Control Commission November 20 2010 Retrieved November 24 2010 Official Notification PDF Oregon Liquor Control Commission November 22 2010 archived PDF from the original on July 19 2011 retrieved November 24 2010 Evensen Jay October 27 2010 Utah a step ahead on Four Loko Deseret News Archived from the original on November 2 2010 Retrieved November 16 2010 Lockwood Heather November 4 2010 Controversial alcohol energy drinks to be banned in Michigan The Ann Arbor News Archived from the original on November 8 2010 Retrieved November 4 2010 Colberg Sonya November 9 2010 Oklahoma panel bans deliveries of Four Loko after Dec 3 The Oklahomian Archived from the original on November 8 2010 Retrieved November 9 2010 Yuan Teresa November 10 2010 State liquor board bans alcoholic energy drinks King 5 News Archived from the original on November 13 2010 Retrieved November 10 2010 Under Pressure Four Loko Opts To Eliminate Caffeine CBS New York November 16 2010 Archived from the original on November 19 2010 Retrieved November 16 2010 FDA Warning Letters issued to four makers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages Food and Drug Administration November 17 2010 Archived from the original on February 26 2011 Retrieved November 24 2010 FDA calls 7 caffeine alcohol drinks unsafe CNN November 17 2010 Archived from the original on November 20 2010 Retrieved November 17 2010 Beato Greg March 30 2010 Too Much Fun Reason April 2010 Archived from the original on April 4 2010 Retrieved May 29 2010 Schapiro Rich November 17 2010 Partyers rush to stock up on Four Loko before it gets pulled from shelves after FDA says it s unsafe Daily News New York Archived from the original on November 22 2010 Retrieved December 24 2010 Lowery Wesley December 9 2010 Four Loko still available at premium prices The Columbus Dispatch Archived from the original on June 24 2012 Retrieved June 21 2012 Four Loko Still Available on Store Shelves Online Convenience Store News Columbus Ohio December 8 2010 Archived from the original on December 14 2010 Retrieved December 24 2010 Reformulated Four Loko beverage is back on the shelves Fort Worth Star Telegram December 22 2010 Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Four Loko Cheap But Potentially Harmful Buzz Miami Florida The Miami Hurricane Archived from the original on August 19 2014 Retrieved August 18 2014 Further reading editJenkins Billiam November 24 2010 Loco Over Four Loko Reason Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Four Loko amp oldid 1218346088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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