Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages Q&A from the FDA

Questions and Answers: Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

What action is FDA taking?

FDA is issuing Warning Letters to four manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. All of these products are alcoholic malt beverages to which caffeine has been directly added as an ingredient. The manufacturers and their products are:

• Charge Beverages Corporation, which makes “Core High Gravity HG Green,” “Core High Gravity HG Orange,” and “Lemon Lime Core Spiked;”
• New Century Brewing Company, LLC, which makes “Moonshot;”
• Phusion Projects, LLC (doing business as Drink Four Brewing Company), which makes “Four Loko;” and
• United Brands, which makes “Joose” and “Max.”

FDA is issuing the Warning Letters because the Agency’s position is that the products named in the Warning Letters are being marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FFDCA).

The agency has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages at any level, and based on the information FDA has reviewed, the agency does not consider the use of caffeine in the beverages listed above to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The Warning Letters should not be interpreted to mean that FDA considers other alcoholic beverages to which caffeine has been directly added to be in compliance with the law.

Did you see the movie Beer Wars? One of the main characters from the movie was Rhonda Kallman (formerly of Boston Beer Company). She is the founder and CEO of New Century Brewing Company. her beer, "Moonshot" was part of the focus of the movie. Now, I anticipate she's going to be out of business.

Will FDA take action against other products containing added caffeine?

At this time, the FDA is sending Warning Letters to four manufacturers of alcoholic malt beverages to which caffeine has been directly added as an ingredient. Other alcoholic beverages containing added caffeine may be subject to agency action in the future if the available scientific data and information indicate that the use of caffeine in those products is not GRAS. A manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products, including the ingredients of its products, are safe for their intended use and are otherwise in compliance with the law.

So, this doesn't affect coffee stouts. It doesn't affect any other beers where the caffeine is added by the use of ingredients that have caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea). So, Terrapin Wake and Bake is fine.

This came about really fast. This is a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of people who aren't responsible anyway. If you know someone who died from taking these products, did it really surprise you?

Four Loko news; Four Loko to remove caffeine amid reports of a ban

From the Chicago Tribune

Four Loko to remove caffeine amid reports of a ban

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The Chicago-based manufacturer of popular caffeinated alcohol drink Four Loko said Tuesday it will remove the caffeine from its products, pulling the blend off the market just as the Food and Drug Administration is poised to ban it.

again, this saddens me.

Four Loko news; Can it avoid an FDA ban?

From the Christian Science Monitor (neither christian nor scientific)

Four Loko: Can it avoid an FDA ban?

The manufacturer of popular caffeinated alcohol drink Four Loko said Tuesday it will remove the caffeine from its products, pulling the blend off the market just as the Food and Drug Administration is poised to ban it.

Holy shit.

Phusion Projects said in a statement posted on its website that the company will remove caffeine and two other ingredients from its products going forward.

So, it's just going to be Loko? Since there will be no more Four.

The FDA ruling "should be the nail in the coffin of these dangerous and toxic drinks," Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has pushed the Obama administration to ban the beverages, said Tuesday.

Technically, alcohol is poison, so yes, it's a toxic drink.

It's a sad day for liquor.

Four Loko news; under fie in 3 more states

Chalk paranoia up in at least three more states, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

From Chicago Breaking Business; Mass., conn. Move to restrict Phusion's Four Loko

Massachusetts liquor regulators are moving to restrict sales of potent stimulant-packed alcoholic drinks, including Four Loko that has been banned in four states. Connecticut wholesalers wholesalers have agreed to voluntarily suspend their shipment and deliveries.

From the New York Times, Maker Halts Distributino of Alcholic energy drink

It will not be on the shelves much longer. On Sunday, state officials announced that Phusion Projects, the Chicago company that makes Four Loko, had voluntarily agreed to halt shipments to New York State by Friday.

four loko news; Carle expert discusses dangerous drink Four Loko

From WICD 15 ABC

Carle expert discusses dangerous drink Four Loko

Jeff Evans of the Carle Addiction Recovery Center visits Sunrise This Morning to discuss the dangerous effects the drink Four Loko poses to consumers.

four loko news; Popular drink to be banned?

From WAND 17 NBC

Popular drink to be banned?

Four Loko news, Washington State: the next to ban four loko

From ABC News

Washington State: The next to ban four loko



Unwanted sex?

"Just one can of four loko has the same amount of alcohol as six cans of light beer".

Four Loko, where is it banned?

Here's the list as of Nov. 16:

Washington (starts Nov 17)

Michigan

Oklahoma (starts in December 3)

Pennsylvania (voluntary by retailers)

New York (have until Dec 10 to clear inventory)

Massachusetts (starts Nov 22)

Connecticut

Utah




* Oklahoma panel bans deliveries of Four Loko after Dec. 3
+Four Loko Ban Hits State of Washington

Alcohol in the news; 2 more Four Loko articles

Both are in the Daily Illini

Officials concerned about alcoholic energy drinks on campuses

Officials locally and nationally are taking a closer look at the Four Loko drink.

Four Lokos are flavored, highly caffeinated drinks sold in 23.5 ounce cans that contain between 6 and 12 percent alcohol by volume. Sgt. Scott Friedlein of the Champaign Police Department has noticed an increasing prevalence of the Phusion Projects product in the Champaign area. He said that as the drink became more popular, he noticed more unruly behavior.

...

“People would typically drink this as they would a regular can of beer,” Friedlein said. “The problem is it contains similar to five shots of alcohol, some people say a six-pack of beer, and then four cups of coffee on top of that. Where our concern is, that quick accelerated consumption of that much alcohol is going to really cause problems for people who aren’t used to consuming alcohol in the first place.”

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking into Four Loko (among other caffeinated alcoholic products) for safety concerns. Phusion Projects said on its website that it is cooperating with the federal government.

more of the sky falling

Four Loko's allure stays strong despite health warnings

From first glance, Four Loko appears to look like a can of AriZona Ice Tea — something fruity to quench your thirst on a sunny day. Flavors range from orange to blue raspberry, grape to watermelon. But upon closer inspection, one can of Four Loko seems to reveal a far more sinister and less than sweet purpose.

With an alcohol content of 12% and as much caffeine as two cups of coffee, it is an indisputable fact that Four Loko is in no way beneficial to one’s health — yet for many students, this fact does not deter one from drinking it.

...

Trey Ward, a senior in the College of Engineering, said “Drinking Four Loko with your friends is an extremely entertaining experience.”

Undeterred from the harmful effects Four Loko has on the body, Ward said that Four Loko provides countless humorous anecdotes that are too good to pass up. He also mentioned that each time he and a few friends tried it, the result has always left them with an interesting story to tell, and it is for this reason that Ward believes students continue to buy packs of Four Loko.

One unforgettable story concerning a wild barn-dance has Ward admitting that in spite of reports of alcohol poisoning he is still likely to purchase the beverage.

“It’s just interesting to see what’s going to happen,” Ward said. “In a lot of ways drinking it turns into a contest,” he said.

This article is going to make people want to try it more.

Adan Miranda, senior in LAS, said that Four Loko may not be as dangerous as health officials are reporting — if drank in moderation.

“If you drink one can to pregame, you’re going to get buzzed, not ridiculous,” he said.

Unfortunately, Miranda notes that because students “try to drink it like regular beer” it is fairly easy to be rendered out of control by the night’s end.

“I’ve seen people, especially girls, who have gotten sick and throw up because they think they can drink two cans consecutively,” he said.

...

If this isn’t reason enough to consider ending consumption of such a harmful beverage, Ward provides one last reason: humiliation.

“Four Loko made my friend look like a fool at that barn-dance,” he said, laughing.

We're all going to die.

Alcohol in the news; Ban of 'blackout in a can' essential for safety, health

also from the daily illini

ban of 'blackout in a can' essential for safety, health

If you’ve never heard of Four Loko, you are either someone who refrains from social media, or you live in Urbana. Either way, give yourself a pat on the back.

This piece was written by Tim Knudsen. I know he was just trying to be funny... but fuck you tim knudsen.

Four Loko is often bluntly referred to as a “blackout in a can” and has lived up to this expectation. One can of the drink, which is 23.5 ounces, includes the alcohol content of six cans of light beer and the caffeine of two cups of coffee, according to Washington Liquor Control Board spokesman Brian Smith. Even consumed separately, this is a lot of either substance. But combined, this is as dangerous as Springfield Avenue in the dark.

Alright, so how much alcohol is in a can of light beer? Bud light is 4.2% ABV per 12 ounce serving. Thats... .504 ounces of ethyl alcohol in each can of bud light. If you drank a six pack, you'd be consuming 3.024 ounces of straight ethyl alcohol (the equivalent of three shots of everclear). Unless my math is wrong (it's been wrong before), (23.5 / 3.024= abv) the ABV of four loko is 7.77%. Which really isn't that high. The fact that it's a 23.5 ounce can, is the issue. The fact that it tastes like koolade, is the issue.

When caffeine brings your body up, and alcohol brings your body down, the two don’t cancel each other’s effects out — they exacerbate them. The caffeine will hide the depressant effects of alcohol and make you feel more stimulated. This will prohibit your body from putting itself to sleep when it wants to protect you from drinking more. With this, danger has arrived. The drunk (yet awake) version of you isn’t going to tell you to stop drinking, and this how so many college-aged kids recently have been hospitalized.

How much did these people ingest in a short period of time? It wouldn't matter what they are drinking.The same results would happen if someone took 6 cherry bombs in a short period of time. And I don't see this author calling for a ban of cherry vodka and red bull.

It’s easy to explain the risks of Four Loko, so what could possibly be its benefits?

It’s cheap. Four Loko is only $2.69 a can at Hometown Pantry on Green Street. In the college binge-drinking culture, many students drink just to get drunk. Considering what it contains, Four Loko is definitely one of the most economical ways to get drunk. In these hard economic times, buying a Four Loko as opposed to buying a six-pack is the only sensible thing to do — smart college students recognize this.

Buying this is "the only sensible thing to do". Actually, buying a fifth of everclear and a package of koolade (the generic kind) is the only sensible thing to do, if all you want is to get drunk. Or you can drink aqua velva.

Four Loko is 23.5 ounces of college student in a can, plain and simple. Its “benefits” would make our parents raise an eyebrow.

The drink is trendy, and will most likely sink into oblivion with the likes of Ed Hardy and upside-down visors. If not, its risks will ultimately lead to its rightful demise.

Talk of banning a drink, only makes people want it more.

Oh, and Ed Hardy has his own beer line. Apparently, the author is unaware.

Alcohol in the news; Risky Alcoholic drink shouldn't be banned

From the Daily Illini

Risky Alcoholic drink shouldn't be banned

It comes in a brightly colored can. It’s 23.5 ounces, it looks like an energy drink and it tastes like an energy drink. It’s a Four Loko, and it’s bad news.

We're all gonna die!!!

A Four Loko is advertised as a caffeinated alcoholic beverage, and it’s all the rage among college students lately. The cans cost less than $3, they are easy to get a hold of and they can get people drunk very quickly.

They are/were available at most gas stations. Last time I was at Friar Tucks, they were sold out.

Last week, the state of Michigan outlawed Four Lokos. We think that is a step too far; the alcoholic energy drink should not be banned. However, some of us have consumed this drink before and have been unpleasantly surprised at the experience. The drink is dangerous and can lead to bad situations for people who are not aware of its strength and consequences.

"The drink is dangerous and can lead to bad situations". But they don't think it should be banned.

This sounds like something I want to experiment with.

Miller/Coors and Budweiser have stopped making their alcoholic, caffeinated beverages. Because of that, we do not understand why other companies can still do so. We wish these laws were consistent, but in the end, it is our responsibility — and not the government’s — to make these choices.

Miller/Coors and Budweiser chose to stop making it, they were not forced to. There was no law that made them stop making it.

These types of drinks are known to be a problem, and more should be done so that people, specifically college students, are made aware of how dangerous Four Loko — and drinks like it — can be.

Ban jagerbombs! Ban cherrybombs! Ban (any)bombs!

In a campus with an already potent drinking culture, beverages like this are dangerous. However, we are all adults, and if you want to try a Four Loko, try it and have fun. But be careful and be cautious. More than one can be very bad, no matter how high your tolerance is. And mixing it with other drinks is a recipe for disaster.

Oddly, this article says not to pan the drink. Even though it REALLY seems like its for the ban.

Alcohol in the news; Popular drink being called a "blackout in a can"

From WCIA 3/ Illinois homepage.net

Popular drink being called a "blackout in a can"

Caffeine is a stimulant, alcohol is a depressant. Not a great combination,” said U of I alcohol counselor Mary Russell.

The drink is sold in the Champaign Urbana area.

It’s called Four Loko, but others call it “blackout in a can.”

The U of I and others are trying to stop students from drinking it.

The alcoholic energy drinks have three times more alcohol than a beer, plus it tastes good. Russell says just one can could cause a 120 pound woman to have a blood alcohol content of twice the legal limit. She says it can counteract your own body’s self defense mechanism.

“So you keep drinking when you should stop so it raises the blood alcohol content higher than it might than if the student had the natural body mechanism in place to go ahead and stop,” said Russell. Downing one can of Four Loko is like having between five six beers. The alcohol counselor I talked to admits that may sound appealing to some college students. She’s urging people to be careful with the alcoholic energy drink because it’s gotten a lot of people in trouble.

It’s been revealed that nine college students were sent to the hospital after drinking Four Loko at a party near Central Washington University. The University’s President is planning to ban all alcoholic energy drinks. Ramapo College in New Jersey banned Four Loko earlier this month. There are twenty-five places to buy Four Loko in the Champaign-Urbana area.

Look for articles on this everywhere. This beverage will be compared to satan and hitler before long.

No, I haven't had it.

Oh look, it's in Time.

"Blackout in a can"; Alcoholic energy drinks keep wreaking havoc

It's definitely a tool of satan. There is no way anyone could drink this and consider themselves to be a responsible consumer of alcohol. At least, that's what I understand from reading this story.