cbsnews.com
Posted on 10/27/2010 2:33:49 PM PDT by Libloather
Liquor stores reassess Four Loko for ‘liquid crack’ reputation
By Meaghan Beatley
Updated: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 06:10
Recent concerns over the popular alcoholic energy drink Four Loko have prompted at least one Boston liquor store to stop selling the beverage that is often referred to as "liquid crack" and "cocaine in a can."
Four Loko was linked to a recent incident involving nine Central Washington University students, some of whom were hospitalized on Oct. 9 for alcohol poisoning, according to a statement by the Washington Attorney General's office.
Emmett McDermott, department manager of Liquor Land in Dorchester, said the store will no longer be selling Four Loko.
"After the [CWU incident] news article, we're discontinuing it," he said. "It was selling really well, especially on weekends, but with this kind of product you're just not sure what you should be doing with it."
Other local liquor stores, such as Brookline Liquor, plan on keeping it.
Brookline Liquor shift manager Adam Dixon said the franchise's sale of the product is "fairly good."
"We sell quite a few cases, mainly to college students. . . certainly not anyone older than 30," he said. "I generally think any mixture of caffeine and alcohol can be a little more dangerous, but all alcohol can be dangerous depending on how it's consumed. Drinking coffee and liquor is a time-honored tradition."
(Excerpt) Read more at dailyfreepress.com ...
This company has one of the best PR Promotions in years....they have every news organization in the country promoting how “awesome” it is.
As far as I’m concerned these morons were supposed to pass rigorous intelligence tests to get into college. So they’re too stupid to understand the effects of of a toxic substance???? Brainless twits. Darwin award candidates!
This is nutty and is fast becoming an Urban Legend.
It has 11% alcohol and has the same amount of caffeine as 12 oz., or about two cups, of coffee.
But go onto Urban Dictionary and they are making it out to be the most unbelievable buzz ever. Huh?
Can we say, Irish Coffee? Rum and Coke?
Never tried it, but I will tell you this.
Raise your kids to respect alcohol by allowing them to drink it on celebratory occasions starting at age 14 and there won’t be this “romantic antic” attached to it.
If your kids think drinking alcohol is “no big deal” then they’ll be less likely to abuse it when they’re out from under your roof.
Or at least that’s how it’s worked for me and my kids.
Not sure how this is that much different than Red Bull and vodka, very popular drink among college kids.
Somebody keep an eye on Teddy Kennedy’s grave. He might come back for this stuff.
This is from the company website
Statement Regarding Incident at Central Washington University
October 26, 2010
No one is more upset than we are when our products are abused or consumed illegally by underage drinkers – and it appears that both happened in this instance. This is unacceptable.
But so too is placing blame for the incident squarely on Four Loko when the police report, toxicology reports and witness testimony all show that other substances, including beer, hard liquors like vodka and rum, and possibly illicit substances, were consumed as well.
In fact, while our product is mentioned only twice in the 44-page police report, hard liquor, vodka, rum or other alcohol is mentioned at least 19 times; beer is mentioned at least 3 times; and illegal drugs or roofies are mentioned at least 14 times – including twice in connection with an individual attending the party with the intention of bringing drugs with him and once in connection with smoking marijuana.
Officers on the scene reported disposing of the alcohol they found in the house, yet none of these officers described doing this by singling out one product or type of product.
In addition, the ages of the students involved have been redacted from the report, meaning there is no way to determine if any of the partygoers were of-age. Read the police report here.
In addition, the ages of the students involved have been redacted from the report, meaning there is no way to determine if any of the partygoers were of-age. However, in a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna states that all of the students sickened were in fact underage – meaning these young men and women were illegally consuming alcohol. Read his letter here.
Again, the events in central Washington this month were inexcusable. And most would expect our company to disagree with recent decisions to ban our products from college campuses or otherwise restrict their use there.
We do not. We agree with the goals that underlie those sentiments. Making college campuses safe and healthy environments for learning is a goal we share with administrators – even those who have chosen to ban our products. However, we also know that curbing alcohol abuse on college campuses will not be accomplished by singling out a lone product or beverage category.
This is precisely why we go to great lengths to ensure our products are not sold to underage consumers and are not abused. As a company, we do all we can to ensure that our products are consumed safely and responsibly. Read more here.
(quite a party!)
Ahem.
Astute! I agree completely.
I just came back from a big Game weekend at Clemson. Watched my daughter's friends CHUG a massive can of 4 LOKO in 3 seconds and then read the label - 14% ethanol! wow
My daughter finds no attraction with that toxic soda pop or binge drinking as she knows what alcohol does and how to manage it.
I did see some freshmen who had been raised "alcohol free" and those are the ones completely unprepared for unchaperoned college life. Those are the ones that fall from 5th floor balconies. Sad.
They think college students suffering from alcohol poisoning is something completely new? I had minor alcohol poisoning at age 18 and didn’t go to the hospital. Felt like garbage for 3 days after that night, too. Lesson learned, but forgotten after the 4th or 5th drink.
When the temp is cold outside, I will frequently drink one Irish Coffee before and during dinner. Or, coffee with a jigger of 151 rum covered with whipped cream is a delightful alternative. Like everything else in life, I don’t overdo it — one drink for the whole evening is enough.
“Liquor stores reassess Four Loko “
This assumes liquor store owners have ethics.
This stuff is all they drink at WWU. Tastes nasty, and has no more caffiene than vodka and Red Bull or Jagerbombs.
Oh, ick. On the other hand, I went to school in South Texas, a much better place.
Back in the day...when the universe had meaning...
it was cherry vodka mixed with coca-cola to make a cherry coke...
It worked like a liquid panty remover.
Other than obeying the age laws, what sort of ethics do you think they should have exactly?
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