Current Event Posting #2
Topic: Health
Title: Caffeine and Alcohol Drink is Potent Mix for Young
Writer: Abby GoodNough
Publication Name: NY Times
Date of Publication: October 26 2010
Length: 1069 words
Summary:
New beverages called Four Loko that mix alcohol and caffeine into an intense fruity flavor, have blown up in popularity among teenagers. These drinks are not only illegal for people under the age of 21, but they are also very dangerous for the human body. Normally when someone takes in alcohol, their body, at some point will stop communicating with the brain and they will either pass out, or regurgitate the substance. But with the caffeine now added to the mix, it tricks the body by keeping the body in a "normal state" so the person will keep on consuming alcohol till they become seriously ill. In a small school called Ramapo College in New Jersey, a number of students had been hospitalized due to the affects of the four loko drink. The president of the college has banned the drink and is encouraging others to do the same. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether the mixing of alcohol and caffeine is safe for the human body. This drink is very cheap, so it is very affordable for college students and teenagers. Yes, the law does state the you must be under the age of 21 to consume alcohol, but many kids and young adults ignore this law. Thus being said, people are questioning the owner of four loko and are asking him if they are trying to target a younger group. Even the cans look like the energy drinks/ice tea drinks that kids drink, parents said that they didnt even notice that the drink that their child was drinking was illegal.The owner, Michael Michail says that the company has no intention to sell to minors and that on the can, it states multiple times that the drink has alcohol in it.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the malt beverage four loko is being investigated by the Food and Drug administration on whether the mixing of alcohol and caffeine is safe for the human body. Many kids have been hospitalized because of the affect that the drink plays on the body. The caffeine makes the mind think that they are in a "normal state" which leads to serious health problems. The drink is obviously supposed to be drunken by people over 21, but the majority of people who drink it are under that age. In my opinion, I think that the idea is smart, because people love energy drinks now a days, but the health risks and problems are too much.
I feel that the drink is indeed targeted towards those of younger age groups.
ReplyDeleteThis is similar to how cigarettes were advertised. They were advertised to those too young to smoke in hopes that when they were older, they would take up smoking.
I would agree that Four Loko is targetted toward the teenage and young adult demographic. Four Loko lures younger people who want to seem cool, and teenagers and young adults fall right into that trap.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes don't get why companies keep on selling dangerous substances like cigarates and "Four Loko". Its not only the company's fault though. The consumer of "Four Loko" must realize that the drink will destroy their body. I hope that the drink "Four Loko" will be banned.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame the makers of Four Loko for creating the drink and designing the can the way it is if the product is appealing and makes money. I don't think college kids who get hospitalized drinking Four Loko is enough to classify it as a serious danger. Cigarettes are sold to millions of people every day, and have dramatic health effects that are much worse than a few partying kids getting hospitalized, but yet those are sold in every convenience store around the country.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the makers of Four Loko are specifically targeting teens and underaged drinkers. The flashy design might attract the eyes of teens but it will also attract legal drinkers. I don't know if the makers made this drink specifically to endanger the consumers, however if many are being hospitalized, it is obviously not a safe mix of substances. Four Loko should either be banned or have a very detailed description on each can of the side-affects and the harm it has caused in the past.
ReplyDeleteI think Four Loko is trying to target a younger group by making the drink look like what younger people drink. But I also think they may have done this to attract older people who want to feel young to drink it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily. One would definitely not know that the drink would contain alcohol with the appearance of the can, although it may have such written "all over it." I think it's extremely stupid of the Four Loko owners if they had the mindset of targetting a younger group. I don't think they realize how dangerous it is not only to teens, but the effect it may have on our society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThis drink does not seem to be the most positive beverage for an individual to consume seeing the effects that it has. There are many unappealing substances composing the Four Loko drink and no matter how cool or young-looking it is, it will still be very harmful to the average person so I think it's best to be off the market.
ReplyDelete