Faced with state-level bans and pending national scrutiny, Phusion Projects, makers of the much-hyped Four Loko alcoholic energy drink, have decided that the time is right to avoid the pending litigation that would bankrupt their company and just give up. Four Loko will be removing the caffeine and two other stimulants from the drink’s recipe, thereby ending its brief reign as king of the alcoholic energy drinks.
“We are taking this step after trying — unsuccessfully — to navigate a difficult and politically-charged regulatory environment at both the state and federal levels,” said Phusion Projects in a statement released alongside their announcement. “We have repeatedly contended — and still believe, as do many people throughout the country — that the combination of alcohol and caffeine is safe,” the company’s statement continued. “If it were unsafe, popular drinks like rum and colas or Irish coffees that have been consumed safely and responsibly for years would face the same scrutiny that our products have recently faced.”
In a way, it’s a shame. Not that I’ve ever had Four Loko (but I do want to try it before they change the recipe), but that a company is basically being forced to change its product based on some user stupidity and a nanny-state government. Phusion Projects can’t force people to drink Four Loko responsibly, and I guarantee you there have been more people to die from normal beer than to die from caffeinated beer.
Tags: Phuison Projects, Four Loko, alcoholic energy drink, Four Loko to remove caffeine from drink formula, no more caffeine in Four Loko, Four Loko to change recipe, no more caffeine in Four Loko, caffeinated alcoholic beverage, FDA, Food and Drug Administration
