Alcoholic energy drink hits campus, may come with risks

A new beverage has been appearing on the University of Richmond campus from residence halls to University Forest Apartments, and it seems to be increasing in popularity as each weekend passes.

Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink, is now prevalent at Richmond, but it may come with some serious health risks.

Four Loko, produced by Phusion Projects, LLC, is packaged in 23.5 oz. cans and is currently sold in 10 different fruit flavors. In addition to the 12 percent alcohol content, these alcoholic energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and taurine, two ingredients that, when combined, can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

There is also a variation of the drink called Four MaXed that combines taurine, guarana and caffeine, which has a 10 percent alcohol content. These are sold in both citrus and grape flavors.

According to a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study published last year, college students who mix alcohol with caffeine are more likely to suffer alcohol-related injuries than students who drink only alcohol.

The study also reported that mixing alcohol with energy drinks encouraged binge drinking. Many health officials are also calling Four Loko "liquid cocaine" because of the increased likelihood of its consumers blacking out.

The Food and Drug Administration cited the Wake Forest study in a recent report to more than 20 manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages, stating that it had never approved adding caffeine to alcoholic drinks.

The major concern at Richmond is that students will not find these statistics any more threatening than the regular side effects of too much alcohol.

"I would still try Four Loko," said senior Danielle Schaevitz. "Knowing that it is equal to three beers and being a female, I would think that I could drink less and still feel the effects."

University of Richmond police captain Beth Simonds said that the police department was most concerned with the idea of students drinking these alcoholic energy drinks and then combining them with other drugs.

"People will take other types of medications and also drink these energy drinks, not realizing the large alcohol content," she said. "And this is when we will come into contact with students who are really sick and need to be hospitalized."

The Federal Trade Commission, with the help of New York senator Charles Schumer, is also investigating the marketing strategies used to sell these alcoholic energy drinks.

These drinks, sold in vibrant colored cans with snazzy lettering, appeal to younger consumers and often hide the percentage of alcohol with fine print. Because of these colorful cans, store owners often mistake Four Loko as a non-alcoholic energy drink and sell it to minors.

Simonds said everyone should know the ingredients inside alcoholic energy drinks.

"Even adults who are legally able to drink need to know what's inside them," she said. "They might not think they are drinking that much, but they really are."

The Four Lokos at the Getty Mart are clearly labeled with a tag that reads "12% alcohol, 23.5 oz."

Store clerk Janardhana Reddy said he had not had any problems this semester with underage students attempting to buy the drink, but last year he had multiple encounters with underage students wanting to buy Four Lokos.

"We had to ask them for both their license and their SpiderCard because both tell your age," Reddy said. "That's when we knew they were not old enough."

With 12 percent alcohol, equal to about three beers, and a kick of caffeine, Four Loko is a quick fix for college students with a tight budget.

The Getty Mart is selling Four Loko for $2.59 per can and Reddy said he had seen a surplus of Richmond students purchasing the drink during the last couple weeks.

"Last weekend lots of college students came in and bought Four Loko," he said. "This week has been slow, probably because of tests, but last weekend we sold a lot."

Schaevitz said she had tried a Four Loko once and she found it extremely different from drinking beer.

"I had a lot more energy and I couldn't sleep that night," she said. "I sort of fell asleep for a couple hours but woke up at 6 a.m. really wired."

She said that she did not have a bad hangover the morning after drinking Four Loko but that her roommate did have a hangover from the drink and blacked out for the first time in her life.

Contact reporter Bria Eulitt at bria.eulitt@richmond.edu