ABC Regulators Issue Warning on Alcoholic Energy Drinks

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Updated: 12:43 PM Nov 16, 2010 ABC Regulators Issue Warning on Alcoholic Energy Drinks The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for the state of Virginia has issued a warning to establishments that sell Four Loko and other alcoholic energy drinks. Posted: 9:36 AM Nov 16, 2010 Email Address: news@newsplex.com ABC Letter to Licensees

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November 16, 2010

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for the state of Virginia has issued a warning to establishments that sell Four Loko and other alcoholic energy drinks.

The ABC board says large doses of caffeine mixed with alcohol is dangerous and issued the following statement, in part, to ABC licensees:

"Alcoholic energy drinks are in the spotlight because of concerns about the dangers of large doses of caffeine mixed with alcohol and the high alcohol content in some of the drinks. Also of concern is the appeal of energy drinks to underage persons.

Alcoholic energy drinks, when consumed by underage persons, are a serious threat to public safety. We expect you to use extreme caution when selling these products."

ABC regulators are also in the process of requiring off-site retailers in Virginia to display any alcoholic energy drinks in the same section where wine and beer are displayed. They expect those regulations to be in place by January.

The Food and Drug Administration is considering banning alcoholic energy drinks and ABC officials say they will monitor that decision.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Charlottesville , VA on Mar 25, 2011 at 10:22 AM

Four Lokos Should Not Be Banned! If The Issue Is Underage Children Getting Alcohol , They're Gonna Get a Hold Of It No Matter Where or What You Ban! Anyone Can Make an Alcoholic Drink So Why Make It Illegal and Have Just About Half the City Breaking a Law! Keep FOUR LOKOS! Not Just Young Adults Drink Them ! Sheesh..

Posted by: College Student Location: Lynchburg on Nov 18, 2010 at 11:20 AM

While this drink can be dangerous, so can drinking any alcoholic drink, if you ban this, kids can just mix red bull and rum or another combination of alcohol and energy drinks, people are doing it anyways so you might as well keep it legal. It tastes good and you just need to drink responsibly as with any other energy drink or alcohol. It is possible to do so, so I see no need to ban it.

Posted by: Concerned Parent Location: Fluvanna on Nov 17, 2010 at 08:15 AM

I agree! Ban it!!! The mixture of high alcohol content and caffeine is lethal. For those of you who don't know much about it, do some research. Due to the high alcohol content, plus the "upper" with this drink, it has been proven people do much more dangerous acts than if they were drinking plain beer. You take risks you wouldn't normally take. It's actually referred to as "the blackout drink" because people often do not remember anything they have done after drinking several of these. Research shows more rapes have occurred while under the influence of this beverage, as well as MVAs/DUIs where the person didn't even remember getting into the car. Its flashy can and no "downer" feeling are popular with teenagers and college kids. Read some of the articles on the web about the effects of Four Loko. Four states have already banned this stuff. I wish Virginia was one of them!!

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