The alcohol industry has been marketing sweet and fruity alcopops as safer than pure alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, whisky, rum, and vodka. But many of these alcopops contain more alcohol than beer, and some dangerously combine a stimulant like caffeine with a depressant like alcohol. Joose has both caffeine and 9.9 percent liquor; Four Loko (above) has caffeine and 12 percent liquor, Sparks Red contains 8 percent alcohol, all substantially more than most beers. Because alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant, a mix of substances can confuse the nervous system. Rather than feeling tired after drinking booze, the caffeine causes a high, masking the feeling of intoxication.
Seattle Times
Clever marketing makes both parents and kids unaware of what kind of danger lurks in these alcopops. "One of the big trends we are seeing is with alcopops. We've had clients who don't even realize they are alcohol," said Tiffanie Ferguson, an adolescent program coordinator at Akron, Ohio's Community Health Center. Girls, in particular, love the sweet malt punch. According to the state Department of Youth and Human Services, one-third of teenage girls have tried alcopops, such as the various Smirnoff and Mike's Hard flavors.
In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent 27 letters to manufacturers and distributors of caffeinated alcoholic drinks, challenging them to scientifically prove that the drinks are safe. So far, the FDA has received 19 answers and is reviewing the information. A lot of alcohol abuse by girls goes undetected. And girls are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior or be victimized while drunk.
