In the aftermath of what stymied police at first, there has been warnings issued about ‘Four Loko’ and other similar drinks.
These drinks contain 12% alcohol and high amounts of caffeine. The premise seems to be that you can drink more alcohol and not even know you are drunk because of the effects of the caffeine. These drinks are sold in Atlanta near the non-alcoholic energy drinks. They can be deadly and warnings are coming from everywhere. Parents should warn their students; especially those at college about this danger.
After an incident that sickened about 50 in an off campus party and hospitalized several, Central Washington University has banned the alcohol energy drinks. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/caffeinated-booze-drugs-sickened-students-party/story?id=11965071
The Washington Attorney General wants the drink banned in their state. The FDA is looking into the matter as well. Hopefully, this will be banned nationwide. Some young people have purchased these unaware since they are in the same area as the other non-alcoholic energy drinks. They can also be mistaken for juice drinks.
What is it that causes young people and students to take such risks to their health and even death in these situations? It seems that parents here in Atlanta and all across the nation have to work overtime just to see what is out there beckoning their children to experience things in life that could end theirs.
They keep watch over them all their lives, take them for check-ups and dental appointments and see to it that they get the best of health care only to send them off to college to pull such stunts as these.
The makers of these drinks should be held accountable for any deaths or health risk associated with their product. They are fruit flavored to cover the taste of alcohol. We take harmful food and medicine off the market regularly; but these are allowed to be sold?
For more information on ‘Four Loko,” and its ingredients check out http://hubpages.com/hub/Four-Loko-alcohol-with-Caffeine
'Four Loko' is an energy drink with a high alcohol content and boasts of a 'kick' of caffeine as well…….it is reported to contain 12% alcohol and a type of caffeine that is much stronger than the type in coffee or tea. This energy drink contains the usual suspects, caffeine and taurine; but also adds the kicker of alcohol content that is three times that of a regular beer.
Parents Beware: This site tells of adults hanging outside of stores willing to purchase these drinks for minors.
According to Law Enforcement Chaplain Rev. Rocky Brown lll of Delaware County, PA. the drink has brought with it blackout effects on young people who consume the drink. He even stated that adults have been buying the alcohol based energy drink for the minors who stand out front of stores looking to acquire the malt beverage. He assertively called the beverage "legalized liquid cocaine." http://hubpages.com/hub/Four-Loko-alcohol-with-Caffeine
One professor said that these drinks were the binge-drinkers dream because you can consume much more alcohol without passing out – or so they thought. This drink is a caffeinated malt liquor known as “blackout in a can.” It is a mystery to this author as to why anyone young or old would even want to submit their bodies to such danger. Alcohol is a suppressant while caffeine is a stimulant; and the two working together can have terrible consequences on those drinking this type of drink.
At first, the police thought these students were drugged or poisoned. There was initial fear that the females may have been sexually assaulted; but apparently upon further investigation, this did not appear to be the case.
The University said, "We need to make sure that we're sending a strong message to students about the dangers of alcohol energy drinks; and we need to know more about the way it affects health and behavior."
"Being able to feel the effects of tiredness, loss of coordination and even passing out or vomiting are the body's defenses against consuming doses of alcohol that will kill you," Professor Ken Briggs said. Once the blood alcohol level reaches a certain level, you can drop like a box of rocks.
Source: Alan Duke, a CNN US News writer - Hub Pages writer by 9keystrokes
For video reporting the popularity of this drink among colleges students and the dangers of increased drunk driving because drinkers do not feel drunk.
ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/caffeinated-booze-drugs-sickened-students-party/story?id=11965071
Comments
you know what i'm going to do for my 21st birthday? sit outside gas stations and buy minors alcohol. oh yeahh...
The two anonymous jerks above should remember past incidents where lives were lost at college frat initiations from overindulgence in alcohol. The human brain is not fully developed at this age. People will think this is a way to get high faster, not about moderation.
Please, what about personal responsibility? I'll drink a Loko and be fine, but I'm not going to start downing them like they're water just because of the buzz. I'm sorry people can get hurt, but at the end of the day it is still a choice.
I can testify to why, drugs are for people who can't handle reality, Jesus delivered me from cocaine addiction and yes when I started smoking pot in the 70's as a teen (13-14 years old) I did eventually graduate to the harder stuff. I know alot of my former friends who only smoked pot but ended up with drug induced bipolar disorder. Yeh, it takes NOTHING to fit in but Courage to stand out from the crowd. Why the need to catch a buzz? What are you trying to run from? Those claiming they can be responsible drinkers, that's how ALL alcoholics started and if you choose to buy alcohol for minors, be prepared to live with the consequences of your choices,don't get mad when some one buys for your sister or brother and they wind up dead, something young folks don't grasp that, I sure didn't, thought I was invensible and nothing could touch me, your choices, even if you are not caught willcome back to haunt you one day.
And just because you make fun of people hanging around stores to buy illegal alcohol does not mean it does not happen. They make money off these kids who are too stupid to know the difference.
I have actually seen adults buying beer for teenagers. People have taken liberty and freedom in this country to do just anything they dare well please; and that is a crock. We are granted freedoms within the limit of the law.
Some years back two couples were going to the prom and one of the boys paid the limo driver to stop and buy a case of beer. The store owner saw the teens in the car, and reported it to the police and they were stopped shortly down the road. So adults - will buy - alcohol for under aged teens. Maybe so they can get enough to buy some for themselves.
And to the one who says you will drink down a Loko, I hope it will not be the last thing that you do. Read the combination of these ingredients - they can stop your heart without warning.
Just say your prayers and fill out your will if you want to live that recklessly. Taking a chance of walking out in front of a car would be just as dangerous.
It has been reported by those who tried them that they would never do it again because it made them into someone else.
waa waa waa to the above. Just b/c you are the minority doesnt mean it should be banned from people who dont abuse drugs and alcohol.
Maybe right thinking people today is in the minority; but that does not mean they are wrong.
You seem to have no sympathy for all the young people who nearly died in Washington drinking this awful stuff.
I hope if you do drink this, you have a strong heart - that combination could stop it.
Why is it that people think they need harmful stuff to be whatever it is they want to be.
People cut themselves with razor blades as well and we should just step over then and say, "It's a choice?"
We are to help those who need help even if we think they deserve it or not. Those who deserve our love the least, need it more.
Jesus in the answer and living for Christ is the highest of all highs. Christ helps you find a purpose and peace in life that makes life so worth living, you don't want to do anything to shorten it.
Im sick of people trying to bann certain things because others abuse it. Four Loko can make you black out just as any alcoholic beverage if drunk in large amounts. I will not say drinking is safe or theres nothing wrong with it, but if you are responsible you will not die or black out from a four loko. Thats just a fact. If you go drinking a bunch of listerine (and yes is not ment to be drank) you will get sick puke and who knows what else, but should it made illegal? It just annoying to see people wanting to bann things right away just because some people are just stupid and over due everything they are given.
It is merely my job and calling to warn sensible people who will listen when they are warned about dangers they may not know exist; and it is my calling to protect young teens and college kids who are so green behind the ears they listen to what people like you say. I am all about saving lives; and helping people what are you all about?
What if someone took your advice who had an undetected heart problem and drank just one of these and died, would that make any difference to you? Well, I am like the watchman in the tower. God told the watchman that his duty was only to watch and warn and if he did that he was doing his job even if the people did not heed the warning - but if he did not warn and they people were attacked and harmed, God would hold them accountable.
I sit here for hours reading, do research, to put out good articles for those who are smart enough to listen and heed; and to the rest - they have been warned. There is no accounting for stupid people. In my opinion to drink the first one would be stupid. I have a heart condition which cannot tolerate stimulants like caffeine or suppressants like cough syrup. I know this and would not touch it - but some young person may not know of hidden health problems and it would be a shame if I did not at least try to warn them, huh? If I could have saved just one life - it is worth all the mean things people say to me.
Patricia, all the warnings, ARE ALL OVER THE CAN!!! Maybe Patricias warning should be stamped on the can as well, that should change some lives. And the not knowing if you have a heart condition and drinking one and dien, you may have a peanut allergy you dont know about and eat one for the first time and die. Its life. Yes people dying matter to me, Im not a cold hearted person. But I am all about choices.
Sometimes choices kill and if we care about people, the least we can do is warn them. Smoking kills as well and people are warned and they still do that as well; but they can't say they were not warned. I will continue to speak out if it means that somebody's choice might change if it means harm or death to them. For the life of me, I can't understand why people don't care what they do to their bodies. Life is too precious to throw away.
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