North Reading Police Caution Residents of Potentially Dangerous Four Loko Drink

From the North Reading Police Department

NORTH READING — Chief Michael P. Murphy and the North Reading Police Department, along with the North Reading Community Impact Team, are warning residents about the potential dangers of the alcoholic beverage Four Loko after the beverage has reappeared in stores with modified ingredients.

First manufactured about 10 years ago, the “four” in the name stands for caffeine, alcohol, the stimulant guarana and the stimulant taurine.

In 2010, manufacturers modified the beverage’s ingredients and removed the caffeine, guarana and taurine stimulants. However, the current formula still contains anywhere from 6 to 14 percent alcohol by volume and sugar.

In the U.S., at least five states banned Four Loko in its original form. Washington banned the product after nine university students who consumed Four Loko and vodka were hospitalized in October 2010.

Officials are concerned that while the new version of Four Loko does not contain caffeine or other potentially harmful stimulants, the large can size of 23.5 fluid ounces contains approximately 4.75 servings of alcohol, making it easy for consumers to over indulge. The brightly colored cans are also being marketed to younger consumers, raising concern among law enforcement and parents.

“We want to make parents aware about this product and the potential danger it poses even though it has been marketed as a safer beverage,” Chief Murphy said. “Please, talk to your children about alcohol use and make sure that products such as these don’t end up in their hands.”

Additionally, the high sugar content in each can prolong the after effects of alcohol and be linked to health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

“This product is available at many liquor stores around town and in surrounding communities, making it more easily available to our youth,” said Leah Maihos, Drug Free Communities Grant Project Coordinator at North Reading CIT. “It is important that we are educating our children about the dangers of consuming this product and making sure that it does not end up in the hands of anyone who is underage.”