NY Cracks Down on Alcopop Abuse

NEW YORKSen. Jeff Klein (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Senate Alcohol and Drug Abuse Committee, unveiled an aggressive plan to restrict minors access to high-alcohol malted beverages or alcopops" similar to Four Loko that have been deemed unsafe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The move comes after a recent undercover police sting in New York City revealed the beverages were being sold at 18 convenience stores.

"The results of these investigations clearly show that 'alcopops' like Four Loko- or any other type of these deceptive drinks- are still too easy for teens to get their hands on. It is time for us to take the necessary steps to get these dangerous cocktails off the shelves of convenience stores and bodegas in order to save our teens from any further injury or harm," Klein said.

Klein introduced legislation (S.4221) that would limit the sale of beverages with more than 6 percent alcohol, 1 percent sugar and a fruit flavor to liquor stores and not allow them to be sold in convenience stores. The legislation is slated to be voted on by the Senate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee on April 4.

The committee also will hold an April 12 hearing on the dangers, rising trend of underage drinking, direct marketing targeting minors, college campus prevalence, law enforcement and legislation on dealing with alcopops. The goal is to raise awareness of the issue and to shape pending and future legislation dealing with the regulation of high-alcohol flavored malt beverages.

In November 2010 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Four Loko and three other companies that their products were unsafe and illegal and could not remain in the marketplace in their current form. Specifically, FDA said the caffeine added to the malt alcoholic beverages is an unsafe food additive." Phusion Projects has since reformulated its products to remove caffeine, guarana and taurine nationwide.

Experts have raised concerns that caffeine can mask some of the sensory cues individuals might normally rely on to determine their level of intoxication. FDA said peer-reviewed studies suggest that the consumption of beverages containing added caffeine and alcohol is associated with risky behaviors that may lead to hazardous and life-threatening situations.