UPDATE 3/30/2024: I would like to apologize for the confusion. This article was incorrect because I misread the source. Colt 45 does not contain caffeine. However, many people are still concerned because of the fruity flavors and celebrity endorsements that the product has; they think that these factors will make it more marketable to underage drinkers.
When Four Loko hit the shelves last year, health advocates and parents were concerned about the dangerous side effects the alcoholic beverage posed for young adults. Four Loko and other caffeinated alcoholic beverages contained a possibly lethal combination of alcohol and caffeine, which could cause drinkers to have heart attacks or other negative health consequences; some deaths have even been contributed to alcohol abuse from these drinks. In late 2024, many of these drinks were banned from the shelves unless they altered their recipes.
Now, a new caffeinated alcoholic drink is hitting the market, and many are concerned that it will target underage drinkers. The drink is called Blast by Colt 45 and Snoop Dogg, a famous rapper, is promoting the drink, according to NYDailyNews.com. Blast is a fruity-flavored drink with flavors such as Pomegranate-Blueberry and Raspberry-Watermelon. Blast is sold in 23.5 ounce cans and contains 12 percent alcohol; this is comparable to the infamous Four Lokos.
“We consider this the latest posterchild for supersized alcopops and a binge drinking threat for youth and young adults,” said Michael Scippa, a spokesman for the Marin Institute.
These drinks are more dangerous than other alcoholic beverages due to the caffeine they contain. The caffeine increases your alertness and heart rate, but the alcohol is a depressant and causes loss of normal faculties. The combination can cause drinkers to not realize how much alcohol they are consuming, leading them to drink more than they normally would.
Have you ever tried one of these caffeinated alcoholic beverages? What was your experience like? Tell us about it here.