Binge drinking among adolescents and young adults is not new, but
authorities are warning about a dangerous new twist with an
increased use of spiked energy drinks that deliver a potent mix of
stimulants and booze.
The fruity drinks, such as Four Loko, lead to a quick and intense
high that has been dubbed "blackout in a can."
Ramapo College this month banned the caffeinated alcoholic
beverages, tightened restrictions on guests and increased penalties
for underage drinking after a raucous start to the fall semester in
which 23 people were hospitalized for alcohol intoxication, school
officials said.
Four Loko -- relatively new to New Jersey -- was involved in some
of the incidents at the Mahwah campus, and the township's police
chief is warning that the drink is being used by even younger
students.
Complaints were brought against three juveniles from Mahwah High
School this week after they were found to be in possession of or
intoxicated by Four Loko, Chief James Batelli said.
"The bottom line on the product is it gets you very drunk, very
quick," Batelli said. "To me, Four Loko is just a dangerous
substance."
The drink comes in 23.5-ounce cans and has an alcohol content of
12 percent -- the equivalent of four beers. Four Loko is cheap --
generally selling for less than $3 per can. It's carbonated and
comes in a variety of fruity flavors -- making it popular with
underage drinkers, experts say.
It is sold only in liquor stores in New Jersey, but it can be
sold in convenience stores in other states, where clerks may not be
as vigilant about checking for underage drinkers.
The packaging is similar to that of non-alcoholic energy drinks -
- colorful and graphic -- which appeals to teenagers but could also
allow the drinks to fly under the radar of parents and educators.
"I think it's clear they are marketing to young people," said
David Schardt of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in
Washington.
Batelli said his department is working with officials in nearby
Rockland County, N.Y., just across the state line from Mahwah, about
stepping up enforcement of drinking age prohibitions there.
The chief also said he is preparing a letter to ask the state
attorney general to look into the marketing of Four Loko and other
caffeinated alcoholic beverages. Attorneys general in New York,
Connecticut and California have begun similar probes, and the
federal Food and Drug Administration is evaluating the safety of
Four Loko and caffeinated alcoholic beverages made by 29 other
companies.
Four Loko and Joose are among the biggest brands in the category.
The makers of three of the drinks: Sparks, Tilt and Bud Extra,
withdrew or reformulated their products after the FDA began looking
at them. Those products were made by larger companies, such as
MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch, while Four Loko and many of the
other drinks are made by smaller breweries less responsive to public
pressure, experts said.
"There doesn't seem to be a concerted effort to deal with this,"
Schardt said.
He added that the FDA has said mixing alcohol and caffeine had
never been approved by the agency.
The FDA has estimated that as many as a quarter of college
students drink the alcohol-laced energy drinks. Other colleges in
North Jersey surveyed this week did not report specific problems
with the beverages, but the head of the New Jersey Prevention
Network said the drinks were "on the radar. We are concerned ... it
is a problem here," said Diane Litterer, executive director of the
group.
"It's certainly a trend, and we need to raise awareness," she
said. "We're looking at what we can do."
The drinks generally have alcohol contents ranging from 6 to 12
percent, with Four Loko at the high end of the range. Students have
also been mixing their own concoctions -- adding alcohol to regular
energy drinks -- for some time, she said.
The stimulants in the drinks initially mask the effects of the
alcohol, so people keep drinking until they are severely
intoxicated, the experts say.
"Caffeine clearly makes people more alert, but that doesn't make
you less drunk," Schardt said. "There's a real risk of these kids
getting hurt."
Schardt, Batelli and others say they worry about the effects of
the combination and the possibility of sexual assaults and other
problems that come with serious intoxication.
Batelli praised Ramapo President Peter Mercer for being
aggressive in banning the drinks on campus.
"He's admitting the problem; the other colleges put the blinders
on," Batelli said. "I don't think Mahwah is any different than
anywhere else. You're sticking your head in the sand if you don't
think it's in your school."
E-mail: alex@northjersey.com
SIDEBAR:
What is Four Loko?
* Four Loko is a caffeinated energy drink that contains 12
percent alcohol.
* It's a malt beverage that has been dubbed "blackout in a can,"
because the potent mix of booze and stimulants leads to quick and
intense intoxication.
* In addition to alcohol, it contains added sugar, caffeine,
taurine and guarana. Taurine and guarana are common energy drink
additives, although the energy-producing properties of taurine are
in dispute. Guarana is a South American plant that contains about
double the caffeine found in coffee beans.
* Four Loko generally costs less than $3 for a 23.5-ounce can
that can pack the punch of four beers.
* Its low price, fruity flavors and colorful packaging are a draw
for underage drinkers, critics say.
* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has requested information
from the makers of Four Loko and 29 other manufacturers of
caffeinated alcoholic beverages as it examines the safety of the
drinks.
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