Tag: Four loko history

In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially declared that the caffeinated alcoholic beverage Four Loko was a public health concern, leading to its reformulation. So what was wrong with the old Four Loko, dubbed the 'blackout in a can' by critics, that made it so controversial and ultimately led to its removal from shelves in its original form?.

Back in 2010, after mounting pressure and FDA warnings, the makers of 4 Loko removed caffeine from their product. This significant change forever altered the infamous "blackout in a can" that once combined stimulants and alcohol. This article explores the history of caffeinated 4 Loko and details why the modern version is no longer caffeinated.

In its most infamous and potent incarnation, the original Four Loko contained a whopping 12% alcohol by volume (ABV), in addition to a potent mix of stimulants. This unique, and ultimately dangerous, combination is central to the history surrounding the product and explains why many consumers ask, 'How much alcohol did Four Loko used to have?'