FDA To Ban Popular Alcoholic Energy Drinks, Lawmakers Say

It’s often called “black-out in a can,” and for a year now, the Federal Drug Administration has been investigating controversial mixed alcoholic malt beverages such as Four Loko and Joose.

The FDA is expected to rule Wednesday that these drinks are unsafe.

They contain the same ingredients used in popular energy drinks, and doctors say, when paired with alcohol, the combination can kill.

Washington State, Utah, Oklahoma and Michigan recently banned the sale of highly caffeinated alcoholic beverages.

Last month, nine students from Central Washington University were hospitalized after drinking Four Loko.

Desert hospitals like the Eisenhower Medical Center say it might not be as bad but they have seen a similar trend.

“It’s like, ‘buyer be ware,'” said Josh Scott, 21, a student at College of the Desert. “They have to regulate their own usage.”

One person recently checked into the emergency room at Eisenhower Medical Center after consuming more than two Four Lokos.

One 23.5 ounce can of Four Loko or Joose contains 12 percent alcohol and that is equal to three cans of beer, health officials said.

“Do not mix caffeine products or stimulant products with alcohol, because as you drink more of these products, you may not have the awareness that you are getting drunk and you may become intoxicated without knowing it,” said Dr. Hessam Mahdavi, a primary care physician at Eisenhower Medical Center who specializes in nutrition.

Mahdavi these drinks also pack as much punch as about three cups of coffee.

For example, Four Loko contains caffeine; guarana, which is another source of caffeine; taurine, which is an amino acid and considered safe; and alcohol.

Mahdavi said this combination could produce deadly results.

“It’s plausible and it has happened,” he said. “Once your heart rate goes in a very fast heart rate, you’re going into a dangerous arrhythmia — it can cause death.”

Students at the College of the Desert are well aware of the dangers of these alcoholic energy drinks.

“It’s crazy,” said Ron Mercyp, 22, a student. “My cousin got wasted off one of those drinks.”

But some say they are no different than mixed drinks you could order at any bar or club.

“Anything with Rock Star or Red Bull,” said Scott. “People are gonna do it. So, just because it’s sold in a drink, they’re going to try to regulate it and have no caffeine with it — its not right.”

Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, announced Tuesday that the FDA will rule that caffeine is an unsafe food additive to alcoholic drinks.

That would ban the products from the market almost immediately.

“You’re drinking a stupid drug that can kill you instantly by drinking it just a couple times,” said Mercyp. “So, I’m with it. Take it out. It’s garbage.”

“It might make it less dangerous. However, there are other herbal products that also has the stimulatory effect like guarana that’s in this particular drink,” said Mahdavi. “So, it might not take it away fully.”

JFK Memorial Hospital says several patients are treated a month for sickness related to highly caffeinated drinks. But it can’t confirm whether or not those drinks contained alcohol.

Desert Regional Medical Center says treatment for caffeinated alcoholic beverages are not a reported statistic.