Alcopops are cheaper and pose a serious risk to minor drinkers

Experts have warned that alcopops pose a new threat to underage drinkers. These alcopops are ready-to-drink flavored alcoholic drinks that contain more alcohol than usual, they warn. The latest study from the College of Health and Social Services (CHHS) of George Mason University and his team notes that some of the available alcopops are cheap and easily accessible to underage drinkers. The study was published in the latest issue of the journal Alcoholism: clinical and experimental research. It was titled "Four Loko Prize in Major American Cities, 2018".

Experts warn that drinking a standard can of alcopops is an excessive consumption of alcohol. Drinking more than one could lead to alcohol poisoning and even death, they add. One of the major companies that sells these products is the Loko Oven, which sells oversized alcopop to minor drinkers. Four Loko is the cheapest of all brands, says the study. The authors of the study write that because of the high alcohol content and low prices, there is a higher risk of consumption that could harm young people and become a public health problem.

Professor Matthew Rossheim, badistant professor at the HSST, reviewed the retail price of Four Loko in major US cities with the team, including Kayla McDonald, Reema Ahmad and Sieka Siklo of the CHHS, Department of Global Health and community.

The team writes that each of the 23.5 oz. cans contain three times more alcohol than an ordinary beer. The containers are also twice as big as an ordinary beer. This means that the alcohol content of a pack of six beers is sold for less than $ 3, write the researchers. The team calls on decision makers to reduce the high alcohol content by volume (abv) of these alcopops, to ban them altogether or to increase their prices to make them inaccessible to young people.

Rossheim said in a statement: "It is dangerous for anyone to consume a single can of Quatre Loko in one sitting, not to mention minors who have less experience with alcohol and who weigh less heavy. Regulators should reduce the availability and volume of alcohol per product of these products and increase their retail price to reduce and prevent the consumption of alcohol at risk. "

The researchers collected information on prices and sales of these alcopops from a random sample of stores located in major cities in each of the country's states. They interviewed retailers about the availability, volume, price, discounts and discounts for the purchase of more than one, etc., from Four Loko.

The team examined a total of 344 retail stores with stocks of Four Loko. They noted that the average price of a standard alcoholic beverage (14 g of absolute alcohol) was 0.54 USD for Four Loko products. They write that "on average 17 standard alcoholic beverages can be purchased with Four Loko with $ 10". Their abv value was 14%, compared to 12% of an average alcoholic beverage and at lower prices.

State Attorneys General had previously asked Four Loko to reduce the number of its products that had all been ignored. In addition, they recently introduced a product with higher alcohol content. The research team asked the Taxation and Alcohol and Tobacco Bureau to investigate the product to determine if they fit the federal definition of beer and whether they were misleading federal and national taxes.

The authors of this study concluded, "Four Loko is among the cheapest ready-to-eat alcohol available for sale in the United States," he adds. "Consuming a single oversized alcopop is an excessive consumption of alcohol and is therefore a health hazard. consider various measures to reduce the availability and the abv of these products and increase their retail price to reduce and prevent the consumption of alcohol at risk.

Rossheim is also working on another study that shows that the attractive packaging of alcohol-based products is increasing their attractiveness for young people.

Last year, Rossheim published another study in The American newspaper of abuse of drugs and alcohol which dealt with the harmful effects of Four Loko on young drinkers. With his team, he writes: "The oversized alcopop – a flavored alcoholic drink, ready to drink and high in alcohol … is currently regulated as beer." additives, as well as alcohol content, do meet the legal definitions of beer.

The team wrote: "From a public safety perspective, it is urgent that the Bureau of Trade and Taxes on Alcohol and Tobacco evaluate the formulation of oversized alcopops, particularly the percentage of alcohol in the finished product derived from additives. for a reclbadification of these oversized alcopops into distilled alcohols so that young people have limited access. They also called for "price increases and reduced availability in retail stores where young people most often consume alcohol".