Editor’s Note: The last names of several students have been withheld because they discuss drinking underage.
After two tumultuous months under national scrutiny and an official warning from the Food and Drug Administration, the makers of Four Loko announced two weeks ago they’d strip the alcoholic beverage of its energy-boosting components.
But many students refused to bid the beverage a quiet goodbye. Instead, “Farewell, Four Loko” has become a popular party theme as students race to liquor stores to stock up on their favorite cocktail while it still packs the same punch.
Several states — not including this one — and universities banned the beverage in its original form earlier this month. The FDA weighed in shortly thereafter, and made alcoholic energy drinks illegal. Phusion Projects, the Chicago-based manufacturer of Four Loko and similar products, promptly agreed to remove the caffeine, guarana and taurine — three of the drink’s four ‘loco’ ingredients — and other substances from their drink.
The combination of those ingredients was the main reason the concoction was dubbed “blackout in a can” and led to its label as a menace to young drinkers. Many of the beverage’s fans, however, said the recipe was exactly what made the drink so appealing. Sam, a junior engineering major, said she and her friends decided to hold a Four Loko funeral once they heard it would lose its signature ingredients.
“We called every liquor store within 20 minutes or so and bought whatever they had left,” she said. “At the party, we even had a moment of silence once we were out of Lokos.”
Jake, a junior international business and supply chain management major, said many of his friends also chose to snatch up as many of the original 23.5-ounce cans while they still could.
“I know a lot of people who stocked up. There were a couple of parties I knew of that were for Four Loko,” Jake said. “I know people all over the country who stocked up, not just in College Park. My friends and I got four packs when we found out.”
University Police did a tour of local liquor establishments about a month ago to draw owners’ attention to the drink’s risks. Although the cans were harder to find because of high demand, Four Loko stayed on shelves until a few days after Phusion Projects’ announcement on Nov. 16.
The company maintains the drink is safe, but also released a statement saying it would continue to obey the new regulations.
“As a result of FDA’s findings we will notify producers, wholesalers and importers that they are prohibited from selling or shipping the products that FDA has determined to be adulterated in interstate or foreign commerce,” the statement read.
Despite the outcry from health officials, students said they don’t blame the drink itself for any negative consequences associated with it; they point fingers instead at individual irresponsibility and excessive media attention.
Laila, a junior psychology major, said outlawing alcoholic energy drinks is an improper response.
“The banning is ridiculous,” she said. “It’s a ‘people not being able to drink responsibly’ problem, not a Four Loko problem.”
Laila added she thinks the media has created an artificial obsession with the beverage, and banning it is only encouraging students to stock up.
Jake agreed the excessive publicity has created an overblown fad.
“It was more because it was getting banned that it became so popular,” Jake said. “It’s not that the drink tastes good — it kinda tastes like drinking a battery.”
Mark Tinnin, a cashier at #1 Liquor on Route 1, said students have been requesting Four Loko for the past few weeks. He added the store is no longer selling Four Loko or Joose — a similar drink manufactured by United Brands, which also received an FDA warning. But Tilt, another alcoholic energy drink, remains on shelves at #1 Liquor and many stores across the country.
University Police Chief David Mitchell commended the FDA for pursuing Phusion Projects, but noted one drinking fad will always follow another, pointing to alcoholic whipped cream that is growing in popularity. Mitchell said he knows students can still make their own alcoholic energy drink concoctions.
“I understand you can go get a Red Bull and mix it with vodka,” he said. “You can also drink Sterno. So a little bit of common sense has to be applied here.
“There are warnings in regard to the content of it being dangerous if consumed,” Mitchell added. “The FDA has said that it’s unsafe and I applaud their swift action on the drink.”
farrell at umdbk dot com
