Alcoholic energy drinks such as Four Loko will no longer be sold in the state of Oregon.
Oregon’s ban, which is the fifth in the nation, is in response to the Food and Drug Administrations’ recent decision to ban the sale of alcoholic energy drinks.
On Saturday, the Commissioners of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission voted four to one in favor of banning alcoholic energy drinks from being sold in the state of Oregon.
“The OLCC has been concerned about the health risks of these products for some time,” OLCC Chairman Philip Lang said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate that so many young people around the country were hurt by these products. We’re glad that we can play a role in preventing that from happening here in the future.”
Four Loko gained national attention after nine college students in Washington went to the hospital after drinking the product, which contains a mix of caffeine, taurine, guarana and alcohol. A 24-ounce can of Four Loko contains the equivalent of four beers; however, since alcoholic energy drinks act as not only a depressant but also as a stimulant, people drinking it will not realize they are intoxicated.
In a Nov. 17 press release, the FDA warned four manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks that the seizure of their products could occur under federal law because the caffeine added to their malt alcoholic beverages is an “unsafe food additive.”
“There is evidence that the combinations of caffeine and alcohol in these products pose a public health concern,” Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner, said in the FDA’s press release.
Anticipating the ban on alcoholic energy drinks, the makers of Four Loko, Phusion Projects, announced its plans to remove the caffeine, guarana and taurine from the drink on Nov. 16. Four Loko drinks are six to 12 percent alcohol by volume, depending on state regulations.
The OLCC’s temporary ruling on the ban of the drinks Core High Gravity HG Green, Core High Gravity HG Orange, Lemon Lime Core Spiked, Moonshot, Four Loko, Joose and Max is effective immediately and will last until May 18, 2011. During this time period, OLCC staff will begin permanent rule-making.
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