Alcoholic energy drink Four Loko is dropping caffeine from its beverage after New York moved to ban the beverage amid concerns over the drink’s safety and an announcement that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was expected to take a stand on the beverage, the New York Times reported.
The company, in a statement, acknowledged that it was acting in response to the threat of government action.
“We are taking this step after trying – unsuccessfully – to navigate a difficult and politically-charged regulatory environment at both the state and federal levels,” said the statement issued by Phusion Projects, the maker of Four Loko.
Doctors have said the drinks are dangerous because the caffeine in them masks the effects of the alcohol. Four Loko has an alcohol content of 12% and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.
Maen Kassin, manager of the Yem Yem deli at 52 Second Avenue in New York, said he sells about six dozen cans of Four Loko a week. He expects sales of the product to go down if the caffeine is removed. “It’s going to be like regular beer,” he told the New York Times.