Four Loko

[YankeeFan]

What do folks think about this high alcohol content, highly caffeinated beverage that has recently sent college kids to the hospital?

A little background if you're not familiar with it:

A brand called Four Loko — a fruit-flavored malt beverage that has an alcohol content of 12 percent and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee — has come under particular scrutiny after students who drank it this fall at Ramapo College in New Jersey and Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., ended up in emergency rooms, some with high levels of alcohol poisoning.

“This is one of the most dangerous new alcohol concoctions I have ever seen,” said Dr. Michael Reihart, an emergency room doctor at Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pa., who said he had treated more than a dozen teenagers and adults over the last three months who had been brought there after drinking Four Loko. “It’s a recipe for disaster because your body’s natural defense is to get sleepy and not want to drink, but in this case you’re tricking the body with the caffeine.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/us/27drink.html?_r=1&hp

I'm normally a free market guy, but this product seems so easy to abuse, is clearly targeted at kids, and is packaged more like a sport drink or an energy drink. Even it's flavors seem geared to people who don't normally drink alcohol.

 

[Big Circus]

Looks like a trashier Sparks.

 

[Cosmo]

Or Joose.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

I've had one or two and they taste horrible. I can't see how kids would be going to the hospital unless they're drinking three or four of these at a time or stacking other stuff on top of it.

 

[Cosmo]

I've tried Joose. It's so freaking sickly sweet there's no way you can drink more than one. It's a struggle to just get through one.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I don't understand combining caffeine and booze.

Many years ago, some friends and I went on a Jagerbomb binge. After eight of them, I called it a night. I was ready to pass out. But wait! The Red Bull's caffeine wouldn't let that happen. I was in bed for two hours before I could drift off.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

I don't understand combining caffeine and booze.

Many years ago, some friends and I went on a Jagerbomb binge. After eight of them, I called it a night. I was ready to pass out. But wait! The Red Bull's caffeine wouldn't let that happen. I was in bed for two hours before I could drift off.

"This is Unleaded?"

(NSFW, start around 3:00) — Katt Williams

 

[YankeeFan]

I don't understand combining caffeine and booze.

Many years ago, some friends and I went on a Jagerbomb binge. After eight of them, I called it a night. I was ready to pass out. But wait! The Red Bull's caffeine wouldn't let that happen. I was in bed for two hours before I could drift off.

I don't know. About 8 or 9 years ago, I was in LA on business.

It had been a long day, I was super tired, & I had a telephone fight with my (now ex) girlfriend. Had no inclination to go out.

But, my co-workers talked me into going out & I had a few Red Bulls & vodka. They didn't taste great, but they definitely woke me up & gave me a buzz. I ended up having a great time.

I've only ever had one again in Vegas under similar circumstances.

 

[YankeeFan]

I've had one or two and they taste horrible. I can't see how kids would be going to the hospital unless they're drinking three or four of these at a time or stacking other stuff on top of it.

I could see them being a problem at a college party.

If you don't know how strong they are, I could see someone (like a 100 pound girl) drinking a couple thinking they're comparable to a wine cooler (remember those?) and being very drunk, very quickly. Especially if they're also offered a shot or two.

If you're drinking beer -- or wine or mixed drinks -- you can feel yourself start to get effected by the alcohol. You can make a decision to slow down or stop.

With something like this and/or shots, the alcohol hits you too quickly and you're drunk before you know it.

(This is also why I never understand people who do shots at the end of the night. They've usually already had enough and are now just adding to their hangover.)

 

[Buck]

Ridiculous.

 

[Cosmo]

I don't understand combining caffeine and booze.

Many years ago, some friends and I went on a Jagerbomb binge. After eight of them, I called it a night. I was ready to pass out. But wait! The Red Bull's caffeine wouldn't let that happen. I was in bed for two hours before I could drift off.

Eight Jagerbombs? Holy **** dude.

Last winter, I was hanging out with some people that were doing Jager shots and we ended up doing seven of them in a row. I was so wrecked I faceplanted on the way home. It was not a pretty scene.

As The Hold Steady says ... these parties, they start out lovely, then they get druggy and get ugly and get bloody ...

 

[YankeeFan]

Ridiculous.

The drinks or the idea of banning them?

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

I don't understand combining caffeine and booze.

Many years ago, some friends and I went on a Jagerbomb binge. After eight of them, I called it a night. I was ready to pass out. But wait! The Red Bull's caffeine wouldn't let that happen. I was in bed for two hours before I could drift off.

Eight Jagerbombs? Holy **** dude.

Last winter, I was hanging out with some people that were doing Jager shots and we ended up doing seven of them in a row. I was so wrecked I faceplanted on the way home. It was not a pretty scene.

As The Hold Steady says ... these parties, they start out lovely, then they get druggy and get ugly and get bloody ...

I can't drink Monster energy drink now without tasting Jager in them.

 

[Bob Cook]

Drew Carey was wayyyyyyyy ahead of 'em.

 

[Buck]

Ridiculous.

The drinks or the idea of banning them?

Banning them would be ridiculous.
This story exists in an information vacuum, and banning a product without any actual evidence that it is harmful is insane.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Can't touch Everclear.

 

[Buck]

Can't touch Everclear.

My point exactly.
To even start, you have to find out the total volume of binge drinking and the rate of ER visits for alcohol poisoning.
What is the rate of ER visits for alcohol poisoning among the subgroup of people who say they have consumed this product?
Is the second rate higher than the first? We don't know because there's no data.

I'll hazard a guess, though. During the time that these two episodes occurred, if you reviewed every case of a person who visited an ER for alcohol poisoning or suspected alcohol poisoning, a higher percentage had consumed beer rather than this product.

 

[mustangj17]

I was a really heavy drinker in college. I'm a heavy drinker now. I've never tried this Four Loko stuff, by I've bought a 6-pack or 4-pack of Sparks in my day. Two of those don't get me drunk, but man those things make me feel like I just drank 8 Pepsi's or chugged a bottle of Boonesfarm. Just a disgusting feeling. I can't imagine what this Four Loko stuff does.

Years ago, I heard that people were doing the same thing with Red Bull and Vodkas, but personally, I've never experienced that. I don't usually drink them because they are too damn expensive. But when I am playing at the tables in Vegas I go nuts - even so... never ended up in the emergency room. Never heard of anyone else doing the same.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

Can't touch Everclear.

My point exactly.
To even start, you have to find out the total volume of binge drinking and the rate of ER visits for alcohol poisoning.
What is the rate of ER visits for alcohol poisoning among the subgroup of people who say they have consumed this product?
Is the second rate higher than the first? We don't know because there's no data.

I'll hazard a guess, though. During the time that these two episodes occurred, if you reviewed every case of a person who visited an ER for alcohol poisoning or suspected alcohol poisoning, a higher percentage had consumed beer rather than this product.

Well yeah, because beer is consumed by a much larger population than this stuff.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Any of those drinks like Four Loko, Joose or Sparks just leave your stomach with such a full feeling. Can't imagine drinking more than 2.