FDA to Ban 4 Loko-like Products

[Viper Daimao]

So with the FDA announcing a ban to caffeinated malt beverages, and rumors of a Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission issuing an order to stop distribution immediately and to destroy all product, I was wondering about the science behind it.

Is this an over reaction repeating prohibition all over again or is there legitimate medical and scientific concern for the mixture of caffeine and alcohol. If so why aren't jager bombs, vodka red bulls, irish coffee and coffee porters also being banned?

 

[Ziggurat]

So with the FDA announcing a ban to caffeinated malt beverages, and rumors of a Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission issuing an order to stop distribution immediately and to destroy all product, I was wondering about the science behind it.

Anecdote.

Is this an over reaction

Yes.

is there legitimate medical and scientific concern for the mixture of caffeine and alcohol.

Caffeine can mask some of the symptoms of intoxication, so for complete idiots, they might indeed get more drunk than they would drinking just beer. But the risk of overintoxication for idiots is already high. And it's a lot easier to drink too much if you're drinking hard liquor. Whiskey with beer chasers, for example, will get you hammered frighteningly fast if you're careless. So the actual risk from THIS beverage is not really any higher than from other stuff that's been out there pretty much forever. People drinking themselves to death isn't a new phenomenon. You can't legislate it away, and there's no reason (and no evidence) to indicate that this stuff presents any more of a risk than hard liquor.

If so why aren't jager bombs, vodka red bulls, irish coffee and coffee porters also being banned?

Because those aren't easy targets.

 

[Biscuit]

If you outlaw 4loko only outlaws will have 4loko.

 

[quarky]

I noticed that all the fake beers with extra nutrients and supplements have disappeared from my local drug dealer's gas station.

I used to get one, once in awhile. I considered them to be 'breakfast beers', because you get some caffine, and even some ginseng and stuff; as if they were sort of healthy for you.

I never thought about it before, but these drinks are always sold individually, at least in my zone. You never saw a six-pack of them. They are also sickeningly sweet, and usually stronger, and larger, than a typical beer.
Kids would find them to taste like soda-pop.

I'm not surprised they're gone, but it is some strange ethics.
Meanwhile, where I live, anyway, the "ice-beers" are always cheaper than their weaker cousins, the 'light beers', even amidst the same brand.

I wonder when that issue will be tackled? It seems like a blatant attempt to gain loyal customers through encouraging alcoholism.