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In a crowded Washington DC bar one recent Friday night, a patron carrying a nefarious-looking black plastic bag pushes his way past bearded hipsters and preppy Capitol Hill staffers, stopping at a table packed with weekend revelers. “Check this out,” he says, holding up the bag. He pulls out a tall colorful can of Four Loko, a fizzy-lifting drink loaded with caffeine and booze that has made headlines recently when it was banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Nearly everyone at the table lunges to touch the taboo cocktail, pulling it in close to finally catch a glimpse of...

Feds deem Four Loko unsafe drinkRichard Craver Issue date: 11/19/10 The makers of seven alcoholic energy drinks have been given 15 days to show that their beverages are safe for consumers or remove them from the marketplace. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters yesterday to four beverage manufacturers including the maker of Four Loko saying that the drinks are being marketed in violation of federal law. It determined that caffeine is an "unsafe food additive" when mixed with alcoholic beverages. If a beverage-maker cannot prove that its drink is safe, the FDA can seize the products. The...

Liquor stores reassess Four Loko for ‘liquid crack’ reputationBy 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...