Eleven of 28 Bronx bodegas hit in an undercover sting sold minors a popular but controversial caffeinated alcoholic drink named Four Loko that has been banned in four states, authorities revealed yesterday.
“When you put alcohol and caffeine together, it can be a lethal combination,” said state Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester).
The sting came as Gov. Paterson and the State Liquor Authority announced an agreement with the drink’s manufacturer, Chicago-based Phusion Projects, and with the state’s largest beer distributors to stop its sale in New York state.
“We were the first company to take this voluntary step,” Phusion officials said in a statement. “And we think it shows that we are not turning a deaf ear to what’s going on — that a select few have chosen to abuse our products, drink them while underage or break the law and sell them to minors.”
States in which Four Loko is banned include Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington.