I come from a family where everyone for several generations has graduated college, and most of my immediate family own businesses. What I’ve noticed most since becoming a student at the university is that I have a very uncommon perspective.
When I first saw Four Loko, I knew like many it was a regrettable night in an aluminum can. But I know there is significant effort in putting a product to market.
Despite Four Loko consisting solely of substances that our heavily lobbied government has approved individually for consumption by adults, the FDA has decided the mixture is dangerous. The issue with these drinks was brought about largely, if not entirely, from the behavior of underage drinkers.
Despite the fact individuals do things that are illegal, this is obviously the product’s fault. This rationale would put the auto industry out of business for a 14-year-old driver causing an accident.
While the idea of Four Loko is not the most novel, every company is someone’s baby. Nobody works as hard for as little as a small business owner. The decision of the FDA to regulate a drink designed for people of legal drinking age due to the actions of underage drinkers is an exercise that has restricted our personal freedom of choice.
But what’s worst of all is this action will do nothing to make anyone safer. People can get exactly the same effect as Four Loko from about four cups of coffee and a few glasses of wine. Mixing alcohol and caffeine isn’t rocket science. The only people hurt by this decision are those who made the effort to please the consumers. The FDA, by meddling in the affairs of bottlers, has done nothing other than eliminate jobs in a year where double-digit unemployment is a major issue. Great job, Uncle Sam.
