Personal Injury Law

Dangerous Beverage?: Massachusetts Pulls Four Loko From Store Shelves

By Altman & Altman

The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has banned the popular Four Loko beverage from store shelves. Massachusetts is the fifth state to ban the popular caffeinated drink?a move which is likely to be adopted by the other states in due time.

Made by Phusion Projects LLC, the alcoholic energy beverage contains guarana and caffeine and has grown in popularity. College kids have especially taken to Four Loco, which is inexpensive and considered potent. However, there have been growing concerns that the combination of alcohol and caffeine makes the drink a dangerous product.

Our Boston products liability lawyers want to remind you that if you or someone you love suffered serious injuries from drinking or eating a tainted or dangerous food product or beverage, you should explore your legal options as soon as possible. Many college campuses have already banned Four Loko. Recently, nine Central Washington University students (all teenagers) were hospitalized with blood-alcohol levels of .12% to 35% (a BAC of 30% is considered possibly deadly) after drinking the caffeinated malt liquor. One of the students almost died. Another group of students were hospitalized at St. Joseph?s University also after drinking Four Loko.

In an unrelated incident, Florida State University Jason Keiran?s family is suing Phusion Projects for his wrongful death. They claim that he shot himself because he drank three cans of Four Loco.

Elsewhere in the US, relatives of another young adult, 21-year-old Courtney Spurry, say she crashed her car after drinking Four Loko. Spurry died from her injuries.

The Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to the manufacturers of a number of alcoholic energy drinks. In November, Four Loko announced it would take out the stimulants and caffeine from their beverage.

Four Loko pulled from shelves in Wakefield, statewide, Wicked Local, November 28, 2010

Four Loko Lawsuit: Parents Claim Energy Drink Killed Son, ABC News, November 16, 2010

Four Loko caused death of 21-year-old Maryland woman, victim's friends tell local television station, NY Daily News, November 12, 2010

Phusion Projects LLC

Related Web Resources:
FDA Warning Letter

Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission

Full post as published by Boston Injury Lawyer Blog on December 03, 2010 (boomark / email).