By Lindsay Renner, Advertisement Editor
It seems the time for college students and drinkers of any age to get “loko” has come to an end.
The popular caffeinated alcoholic beverage, first introduced in 2006, has already been banned in several states, sending many into a buying frenzy. Rumors of the ban have been circulating since September of this year, but appear to have come to fruition only in recent weeks following a stream of bad publicity for the drink. Although the drink is not being banned entirely, the manufacturers have been told by the Food and Drug Administration that they are to remove the stimulants from the beverage, thus reducing much of its appeal.
Four Loko is typically sold in a wide variety of flavors, and although it is hardly the first alcoholic energy beverage to hit the shelves, it has received some of the most attention. In the United States, Four Loko is typically sold in 16 oz. cans, and reportedly contains as much alcohol as three beers. However, the amount of alcohol in the drink may vary from state to state: in Indiana, Four Loko contains about 6 percent ABV, while in other states the level of alcohol by volume may be as high as 12 percent. The “four” in the name references four of the main ingredients in the drink: caffeine, taurine, guarine and wormwood, the latter being the active ingredient in absinthe.
