On college campuses, in high school parties, and even among some adults all around New York as well as Michigan and Washington, there are people in mourning over the ban of 4 Loko.
While certainly not for everyone, the alcoholic energy drink 4 Loko has become a mainstay for countless college students who want to get as drunk as possible for as cheap as possible. The state bans and impending FDA investigation that could make the drink illegal across the country have sent an army of 4 Loko faithful into protest and outrage.
There are many aspects to the 4 Loko issue. Its wide popularity, very vocal opponents, health concerns, and a mountain of crazy stories make it a fun and controversial subject.
The first thing to consider is probably: what the hell is actually in that can? The name 4 Loko comes from its four main ingredients: alcohol, caffeine, taurine, and guarana. That plus some carbonated water, sugar, and flavoring makes up America’s new favorite alcoholic concoction. The problem is that Phusion Projects, which manufactures the drink, announced Nov. 16th that they’re reformulating the drink and removing the caffeine, taurine, and guarana components. In that case they’d have to lose the 4 and just call it Loko.
The fact that you can buy it so cheap, and it contains stimulants to keep you going when the alcohol would usually just depress your system is what has led to the crazy stories you’ll find on sites like http://thelokolist.com/ and http://fourlokostories.com/ . There are plenty of hilarious and shocking stories floating around these sites and others, and I will say that having one or more 4 Lokos in addition to drinking whatever else will always make for one of the wildest nights you’ve ever had.
I have had 4 Loko before, although not as often as many others, and to be honest I see the appeal for the college partier. It really is crazy in a can, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for a lot of people. Plus while it may taste awful at first, after a few sips most people couldn’t care less.
The opponents of the drink make valid arguments as well though, and the health concerns and rapidly increasing number of 4 Loko related hospital admissions are certainly not something to ignore. At the core of the issue is that the drink is dangerous, which is what some people love and others hate about it.
Here at Syracuse I know from experience that it’s widely popular, or at least it was up until now. Here are some student videos of investigative journalism and interviews that I think captures the varied opinions about the drink around campus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7SBC_ZNfJ0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n-iND7PloI&feature=related
4 Loko was created in 2006 by three Ohio State University graduates, and quickly spread across the nation, although within the past two years or so it has become infinitely more popular. In the U.S. it comes in 16 oz. cans and is 12% alc./vol.
Priced at $3 a can and sold in a wide variety of flavors, this drink is marketed perfectly at the high school/college/young adults who at first glance might seem to be buying just an energy drink like Monster, walking out of the convenience store with a brightly colored and sheik designed can. It’s what one Urban Dictionary definition calls “legalized cocaine in a can”. That might be a bit overdramatic but it has sent a similar number of people to the hospital over the past few years.
One of the most interesting aspects of the issue is how 4 Loko has ingrained itself into the culture of young Americans. I know people that have a specific night every week dedicated to drinking 4 Loko, and are usually pretty pissed if they have to miss it. People make mountains of cans from a 4 Loko party to admire the next day and wonder how the hell that got there.
The question now is what the future holds for the drink. State and possible federal bans could be lifted if the manufacturers go through with their removal of the stimulants in the drink, but then all you’d be left with is the alcohol. Would kids still drink it if it didn’t pack the same punch? Probably, because it’s still cheap.
But imagine if the watered down beverage isn’t enough for 4 Loko drinkers. I’ve heard talk, although mostly in jest, about “4 Loko Speakeasies” after the ban, or will people start brewing 4 Loko moonshine. It’s all a possibility when you factor in that most of the decisions regarding the future of 4 Loko drinking will be made while people are drinking 4 Loko.
One thing we do know for sure is that this story is nowhere near over. With more SAVE 4 LOKO Facebook groups popping up every day, you know the many fans of the drink won’t go down without a fight. Are alcoholic energy drinks bringing on the second coming of the prohibition? Who knows. But I’m excited to find out.
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