Alcoholic Energy Drinks A Deadly Mix! “Blackout-In-A-Can” Poses Huge Risk for Users
http://www.countywomanmagazines.com/articles/338/1/Alcoholic-Energy-Drinks-A-Deadly-Mix-Blackout-In-A-Can-Poses-Huge-Risk-for-Users/Page1.html
Naomi L. Hubbard
Camden County Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Inc. (CCCADA) is a private, nonprofit organization in partnership with other local and county individuals and organizations. CCCADA's Mission is to promote awareness of alcohol, drugs and tobacco and to encourage early intervention and knowledge of the availability of treatment throughout Camden County. CCCADA seeks to:
Prevent: the disease of alcoholism, drug abuse and related problems
Educate: the public that alcoholism, drug abuse and related problems are treatable and preventable
Encourage: early identification, intervention, treatment and continuum of care for alcoholism, drug abuse and related problems
By Naomi L. Hubbard
Published on December 26, 2010
The latest rage among many high school and college students is causing
some serious concerns. An alcoholic energy drink called Four Loko is so
potent some states want it banned. Four Loko is considered an
“alco-pop”, an alcoholic beverage made with fruit juices and other
flavorings which tend to conceal the alcohol content of the drink behind
a sweet, fruity flavor. The colors, the flavors, the website, and the
language used to market this product clearly targets teens, i.e.
underage drinkers.
The latest rage among many high school and college students is causing some serious concerns. An alcoholic energy drink called Four Loko is so potent some states want it banned. Four Loko is considered an “alco-pop”, an alcoholic beverage made with fruit juices and other flavorings which tend to conceal the alcohol content of the drink behind a sweet, fruity flavor. The colors, the flavors, the website, and the language used to market this product clearly targets teens, i.e. underage drinkers.
Just one 23 ounce can equals up to a six pack of beer. Add that to the amount of caffeine in energy drinks and it packs enough of a punch to be called the blackout drink. Right on the can it clearly shows 12 percent alcohol. It only costs $2.50 each. (New York Daily News - 11/5/2010)
The combination of alcohol and caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol due to the fact caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant. This allows consumers to drink too much without realizing they’re one sip away from alcohol poisoning.
Four Loko has been blamed for a rash of hospitalizations across the country and locally, 23 students at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey were hospitalized with alcohol poisoning after drinking the dangerous drink. This outbreak led the college to ban the drink on campus. High schools are also feeling the effects of the recent rise in popularity of Four Loko. Many schools are seeing the same trends as colleges.
Four Loko is a cheap, quick way to drink and directly appeals to the younger crowd. High schools have seen an increased number of incidents since the Four Loko craze hit the market. The best way to combat this problem is to raise awareness on the effects of the drink, and making parents realize the harmful consequences associated with it.
If you see your son or daughter is a fan of a Four Loko group on Facebook — which states in their information section: “mission: to get us all drunk : )”— or you find a neon can in the trash/in a picture/in a backpack — talk to your teen about the dangers of alcohol, especially when mixed with caffeine. Start the discussion now – you’ll be glad you did!
For more information, contact CCCADA at 856-427-6553 or visit www.cccada.org.
Just one 23 ounce can equals up to a six pack of beer. Add that to the amount of caffeine in energy drinks and it packs enough of a punch to be called the blackout drink. Right on the can it clearly shows 12 percent alcohol. It only costs $2.50 each. (New York Daily News - 11/5/2010)
The combination of alcohol and caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol due to the fact caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant. This allows consumers to drink too much without realizing they’re one sip away from alcohol poisoning.
Four Loko has been blamed for a rash of hospitalizations across the country and locally, 23 students at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey were hospitalized with alcohol poisoning after drinking the dangerous drink. This outbreak led the college to ban the drink on campus. High schools are also feeling the effects of the recent rise in popularity of Four Loko. Many schools are seeing the same trends as colleges.
Four Loko is a cheap, quick way to drink and directly appeals to the younger crowd. High schools have seen an increased number of incidents since the Four Loko craze hit the market. The best way to combat this problem is to raise awareness on the effects of the drink, and making parents realize the harmful consequences associated with it.
If you see your son or daughter is a fan of a Four Loko group on Facebook — which states in their information section: “mission: to get us all drunk : )”— or you find a neon can in the trash/in a picture/in a backpack — talk to your teen about the dangers of alcohol, especially when mixed with caffeine. Start the discussion now – you’ll be glad you did!
For more information, contact CCCADA at 856-427-6553 or visit www.cccada.org.