Recently, everyone on campus has been talking about the new alcohol beverage, Four Loko. This malt beverage is 12.0% in alcohol content and is about $3.00 a can. After recent incidences at colleges across the United States where numerous students have been hospitalized as a result of consuming this drink, some colleges have banned Four Loko from their campuses. The University of Rhode Island is the third and most recent college to have banned this drink. Four Loko contains guarana, which is a caffeine-producing fruit and can keep a consumer "high" even after the point where they're drunk. However, according to the makers of Four Loko, there isn't any more caffeine than a tall coffee from Starbucks. Also, the marketing of the can is misleading on it's content. It's a colorful can and advertises fruit flavors. It doesn't look any different than a can of fruit juice so it defitnitely targets a younger population. According to the website, American youth abuse alcohol more than tobacco and drugs and people age 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. In 2008, there were 190,000 emergency room visits from people under 20 years for alcohol-related accidents.
Personally, I think people don't know how to drink casually because drinking is restricted until 21 years old, but that's a different topic......Also, I don't think banning Four Loko is going to stop anyone from drinking it on campus. Every alcoholic beverage has detrimental consequences if it's not consumed in moderation, but it's up to the consumer to watch what they drink, not the companies that produce and market them.
I totally agree that banning the Four Loko drinks will really not help any of the problems students have with binge drinking. I was surprised & interested to see this since it has definitly been something I've seen a lot of college students talking about. Personally, I haven't tried yet, but I have been a little tempted. I agree that moderation is definitly key, the problems college students are facing is due to lack of control not choice of drink.
ReplyDeleteI as well agree, banning the product will only instigate the kids to hide it more. I have not actually ever tried four lokos but i have heard some stories. College kids definitely binge drink which makes not only four lokos dangerous but every alcholic beverage dangerous, most campuses are becoming "dry" campuses to reduce drinking, though sometimes this means drinking quietly in your room, which also has its issues. since i dont live on campus i dont actually know, is our camopus considered "dry"?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that banning Four Lokos will not do much. People will just move on to the next drink that will give them the same effects. I personally do not like Four Lokos, I have tried a few sips and never enjoyed the flavor so the whole thing doesn't effect me too much. Hopefully what will come out of all this Four Loko controversy is young people being more aware of what they are drinking. It is so bad for your body to mix alcohol and caffeine together so hopefully people will start making better choices.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you brought these up. I keep hearing about them but refuse to try these, course I don't drink anyways. But the thought of having an energy drink in an alcoholic beverage it disgusting. I can't believe the makers of this drink actually made them! We all know alcohol is a downer and energy drinks are uppers. So why mix them? Great facts
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