The "Black-out" in a Can

It’s no secret that most college kids love to party and drink alcohol. And these days, if you go to a college party, you may happen to see several students drinking a fun colorful can with the name “Four Loko” on it. Yes, the new craze, which has been called “black out” in a can or “liquid cocaine,” is an alcoholic caffeinated energy drink, which has caused college students to black out everywhere. Why is this drink so popular among partying college students? Simple- it only cost $2.45, and all you need is barely one can of it and you’re on your way to a wide-awake inebriation.

At a recent Kid Cudi rap concert at URI, it was reported that 34 students needed medical-attention, and 11 ended up in the hospital, due to alcohol-related issues. Although what these students drank, was not reported, some of my inside sources, who happen to be students that attended the concert, said many of the students were drinking Four Lokos at the event.

            Just today I received an email that declared that the  University of Rhode Island has officially banned Four Lokos.  URI is the third college to ban Four Lokos. Prohibiting this stimulant-alcoholic-energy drink seems to be a fast growing trend among colleges throughout the United States.

 It’s no mystery to why Four Lokos are dangerous, since these 23-ounce cans contain 12 percent alcohol, not to mention that the caffeine has a way of masking the effects of alcohol, which gives drinkers a false sense of sobriety. Doctors also claim that this drink is dangerous since it's a combination of stimulants and depressants which can be extremely detrimental to your health.

            Health officials are investigating Four Lokos further, to see if there are anymore dangerous effects of this beverage, and whether it should be taken off the shelves and the market for good. But in the meantime, students are grabbing it while they can, despite the fact that the drink may cause serious health issues. I have witnessed firsthand, students who claim the medias making a big deal over nothing, and they believe Four Lokos are completely harmless. Actually, since Four Lokos have been getting a lot of attention in the news, I've seen even more kids drinking it than ever before.  I’ve even heard of a “Four Loko Party” or “Four Loko Contests,” which involves people competing to see how many Four Lokos they can drink before reaching complete unconsciousness. Scary, I know.

         This danger0us craze is quickly growing all over the nation. Even underage high school students are drinking it, and many are ending up in the hospital from it. If there's one thing that can be said about it all, it's that FOUR LOKOS are causing young America to go LOKO!