Someone at the FDA needs a reality check

Nine students at Central Washington University were recently hospitalized and Four Loko is to blame. For anyone unfamiliar with Four Loko, it's a 12% fruit-flavored malt beverage with an undisclosed amount of caffeine (it's more than enough). It's about $2 for a 24-ounce can and widely available and convenience stores like 7-Eleven. It's basically like combining a 6-pack of light beer with a couple cups of coffee in one convenient can. Sounds like an awful idea right?

Frankly I think it's a bad enough idea that if adults want to imbibe, that's their choice/problem. Four Loko isn't the only drink like this. If the Blue Raspberry flavor isn't to your liking, you can pick up a can of Watermelon-flavored Joose (only 10% ABV), or make a vodka-tonic with some 3 A.M. Vodka.

My only problem is that the FDA has included a craft-brewed coffee stout on their list of caffeinated alcoholic beverages. I don't know who thought singling this beer out was a good idea, or would even warn of the potential pitfalls of a delicious stout, but I'm disappointed that nobody can recognize the difference between a "$2 blackout in a can" and a spendy, well-made beer. I'd hate to see legit coffee beers with negligible amounts of caffeine getting dragged into this mess.

One of these things is not like the other:

List of Manufacturers of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

Charge Beverages Corporation
Products: Liquid Charge, Liquid Core, High Gravity Core

United Brands Company, Inc
Products: Joose, Max Vibe, Max Fury, Max Live, 3Sum

Phusion Projects LLC
Products: Four, Four Loko, Four Maxed

Point Blank Beverages Co.
Products: Torque

Hard Wired Brewing Company, LLC
Products: Hard Wired

Mix Master Beverage Co
Products: 24/7

Catalyst Beverage Company
Products: Catalyst

New Century Brewing Company
Products: Moonshot

Melanie Brewing Co
Products: Evil Eye

Thomas Creek Brewery, LLC
Products: Mobius Lager

Diageo North America, Inc
Products: Smirnoff Raw Tea Malt Beverage

Constellation Brands
Products: Wide Eye

The P.I.N.K. Spirits Company/Prohibition Beverage Inc
Products: P.I.N.K. Vodka, P.I.N.K. Tequila, P.I.N.K. Rum, P.I.N.K. Gin, P.I.N.K. White Whiskey, P.I.N.K. Sake

Delicious Brands Inc.
Products: Lotus Vodka

Sovereign Brands
Products: 3AM Vodka

Moet Hennessey/Millennium Import LLC
Products: Belevedere IX

Shotpak Vodka
Products: Gravity Vodka

Wingard USA (Importer)
Products: V2 Vodka with Caffeine, Everglo Vodka

LeVecke Corporation
Products: Vicious Vodka with Caffeine

Rocktail Drinks/Liquid Manufacturing LLC
Products: Slingshot Party Gel

Cold Spring Brewing Company/Atomic Brands
Products: A:M Carpe Noctern

808 Spirits Co.
Products: 808 Mango Beat

Gaamm Imports Inc.
Products: Booya Espresso Silver Tequila with Caffeine

Ithaca Beer Co.
Products: Ithaca Eleven Malt Beverage with Coffee

Gluek Brewing Company
Products: Gruv Malt Beverage with Guarana

MHW, Ltd and Niche Import Company
Products: Agwa De Bolivia

Rizer Spirits Inc
Products: XZO Vodka with Caffeine, Taurine, and Guarana