Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
"New" Four Loko Not Neutered Enough For Sen. Jeff Klein
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 28, 2011
Modified Mar 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 28, 2011
Modified Mar 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Man, when will Four Loko catch a break? After being blasted for "causing" death and injury with its volatile combination of caffeine and alcohol, Phusion Projects changed the drink's recipe to eliminate caffeine. But that's just not good enough for Senator Jeff Klein, who not only wants to move all booze over six percent ABV into liquor stores, but wants to ban "alcopops" from the state entirely. Asked about the divisive issue by the Daily News, one 18-year-old said, "Four Loko is for people who don't have enough money and want to get a drink. It still looks really cool." You're not helping!
Klein said in a statement, “'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." Like legislating the hell out of it! Klein introduced two bills that would restrict the sale of "a beverage with a combination of 6 % alcohol by volume and 1 % sugar" to liquor stores (S.4221) and make it illegal to sell caffeinated alcoholic beverages in the state (S.3889).
A few bodegas have been busted for continuing to sell caffeinated Four Loko, and this past week four people were brought to Elmhurst Hospital Emergency Room in Queens for alcohol poisoning caused by drinking Four Loko or Joose. Klein said, "I am curious to know why they continue to market a product that has 12% alcohol to young people." Phusion Projects has repeatedly pointed out that the 12 percent ABV content of the drinks is clearly marked on each can. Fortunately, the Four Loko experience doesn't involve much "fun" for the Senate to ruin for us of-age drinkers.
Tagged
alcoholic drink
four loko
non alcoholic drink
senator jeff klein
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .