OK, so what's up with this drink ! ? Why the craze and why the fear ?
So, FOUR LOKO owes it names to the 4 ingredients that were used to make it :
Alcohol, Caffeine, Taurine, and Guarana.
Just to be precise, it can still be found in this form in the US but in Canada it is only sold without the stimulants.
However, in both types you can also find a ton of sugar (like a lot of calories!!), which easily masks the taste of the alcohol.
Oh, and the alcohol! There's a lot of that, like a lot!!
There can be as much as 12% alcohol in just one can!
Now, what's the problem?
Well, let's just say that everyone is not fully aware of the quantity of alcohol contained in these cans, and might be easily fooled by the sweetness of the drink. People (especially younger ones) tend to go WAY over their limit with these drinks and can slip into an alcohol induced coma. It can take less than an hour for someone to loose consciousness from alcohol poisoning!
In Québec, there have already been multiple cases of young teenagers ending up in the hospital after drinking these. Teens don't realize that their liver isn't up to full performance yet, so they are at risk of meeting the deadly limit.
It's important that everyone be aware of the amount of alcohol in these and that parents are able to recognize that these aren't simple energy drinks. Last week a teen at a school I worked at had brought this for her friends to taste. When she was asked who bought it for her, the answer was her MOM! Turns out her mother had no idea this contained alcohol!
So spread the word and try to make sure the parents around you or the teens you know aren't taking this lightly!
If you choose to drink Four LOKO
Eat first!
Drink slowly - Pace yourself and respect your liver's elimination speed!
Do not mix with other drinks!
If taken with energy drinks or stimulants, be aware you might not feel it if you are heading over your limit.
Please, don't drink and drive!!