Four Loko ban considered by state, federal officials

After raising safety concerns nationwide, Four Loko and other alcoholic energy drinks might soon disappear from shelves.

The N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is expected to discuss Thursday Gov. Bev Perdue’s request that retailers in the state voluntarily remove all energy drinks containing alcohol off the shelves.

“These drinks — which can have the effect of keeping you awake so that you take in more and more alcohol — have caused hospitalizations among college students and other young people,” Perdue said in a news release Friday.

The Four Loko website addresses the safety issue of its products by stating in a letter to the public that the company will abide by any future regulations.

“While we don’t agree with the notion that mixing caffeine and alcohol is inherently unsafe, we do agree with the goal of keeping adults of legal age who choose to drink responsibly as safe and as informed as possible,” the company said in a news release.

The drinks are currently banned in New York, Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma and several individual universities.

Growing concern among states is also causing the federal government to consider a nationwide ban.

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will prohibit sales nationwide of all energy alcoholic drinks, including Four Loko and Joose.

“This ruling should be the nail in the coffin of these dangerous and toxic drinks,” Schumer said in a statement.

“Parents should be able to rest a little easier knowing that soon their children won’t have access to this deadly brew.”

Four Loko came under fire after nine Central Washington University students were hospitalized in October. The students had blood alcohol ranges from 0.12 to 0.35 percent.

According to the Four Loko website, one 23.5 ounce can contains a 12 percent alcohol content, the equivalent of four beers and a caffeine level comparable to a large coffee.

If no federal action is taken, legislators might consider a statewide ban when the N.C. General Assembly reconvenes in January, said N.C. Sen. William Purcell, D-Anson.

Andy Dobson, the beer manager of TJ’s Beverage and Tobacco, called Perdue’s request to retailers “ridiculous.”

“It is an absurd notion of a nanny state,” Dobson said.

While college students are not the only purchasers of Four Loko, Dobson said they are the biggest consumer.

“All a ban on Four Loko does is hurt the retailers,” Dobson said.

“It means a loss of revenue in the middle of a recession.”

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.