Four Loko, the energy drink, has been in the public eye ever since its launch. This beverage has gained a lot of criticism due to the unhealthy combination of alcohol and caffeine. Recently, this energy drink had to sign an agreement stating that it would stop the shipping of the product to New York. Apart from this, Four Loko has also been banned in many other states. These bans forced the beverage producers to exclude ingredients like caffeine, guarana, and taurine from the drink. The ingredients that initially formed the base of this malt beverage were alcohol, caffeine, taurine, wormwood, and guarana. Some of the flavors that Four Loko is available in are watermelon, fruit punch, grape, orange, cranberry, pineapple, mango, peach and margarita. The flavor in the drink is so strong that it masks the taste of alcohol. Due to the high quantities of alcohol and caffeine in the drink, many consumers have reported to have experienced heart palpitations, extreme mood swings, alcohol poisoning, blackouts, anxiety, and insomnia. According to reports, alcohol injuries are exceptionally high in people who consume cocktail drinks containing alcohol along with caffeine. The reason this drink is famous with teens and youngsters is that, Four Loko when gulped down quickly makes the person drunk and keeps him awake with a desire to drink more. So, it is believed that the drink will keep a person awake for long hours when he wants to study for longer hours, or when in an overnight party. There have been many cases reported which mention that overdoing on Four Loko results in hospitalization and even death. It is really shocking to know that people who have had more than one drink of Four Loko have been hospitalized due to its side effects. It is a famous psychoactive substance with a consumption of 120,000 tons per year, all over the world. Caffeine, a xanthine alkaloid, helps a person to stay awake and alert by stimulating the CNS. It leads to insomnia if had in large quantities during the late hours. A person with regular intake of high doses of caffeine becomes more tolerant to increased blood pressure. Too much of caffeine can lead to anxiousness, restlessness, psychomotor agitation, and heart palpitations. Derived from cysteine, taurine is a naturally occurring sulfonic acid. Nutritionally, it is required for the efficient operation of the skeletal muscles and is known for curing liver ailments and hypertension. Taurine is an ingredient that's widely used in energy drinks, all around the world. Excess dosage of taurine can enhance the plasma concentration of growth hormone. Reportedly, excessive taurine can trigger psoriasis or can make it persistent. It is a plant from the maple family. Guarana contains guaranine, which is a synonym for caffeine. It is widely used in energy drinks and soft drinks. Athletics use it to get relief from body ache and hamstring pulls. Due to the caffeine content in guarana, high doses may lead to insomnia, diuresis, vomiting, and restlessness. It can also reduce the calcium content in the bones, leading to osteoporosis. Wormwood is a herb that is medically used to cure intestinal spasms, poor sexual desire, liver ailment, and stomach upset. Other than this, it is used as an insecticide and in alcoholic beverages. Inappropriate dosage of this element can lead to many problems. Thujone, a component of wormwood, can lead to urine retention, tremors, seizures, and paralysis. Due to its psychoactive effects, alcohol is widely consumed by people all over the world. When drunk in excess over a short period of time, the person might suffer with alcohol poisoning, dizziness, and restlessness.

Value per 24 oz.
Total Carbohydrates	65 g
Calories	660 cal
Sugars	60 g
Caffeine	156 mg
Alcohol	12%

In the end, we would say that choose your drinks wisely. Be smart enough to understand that a combination of caffeine and alcohol can have adverse effects on your health. So the next time you see this combination in the list of ingredients of any product, we are sure that you will avoid using that product.