Once Oxford liquor stores sell out of the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko, students will be unable to purchase it.
According to Gary Hetzel, store manager of Oxford Spirits, the store is allowed to sell what they have in stock, but the distributor is putting a hold on further distribution.
"The makers of Four Loko have voluntarily agreed to remove the drink from the shelves," Oxford Police Department Sgt. Jim Squance said. "The drink will not be sold until the caffeine is removed from it."
According to Squance, removing the drink is viewed as a positive step because it has been abused and is very dangerous.
"Students use the drink to get drunk quickly and cheaply," Squance said. "These poor choices lead to bad consequences. Basically, the drink has such a dangerous mixture that it is just not healthy."
Squance said the new version of Four Loko will be highly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration due to all of the publicity the drink has received.
"Oxford hasn't seen any deaths yet, but we have seen many students black out and in the hospital because of the drink," Squance said.
Miami University junior Jessie Rains believes students could use the drink in a smart way.
"It seems dumb because students know what they can handle," Rains said. "They just need to learn to practice moderation with Four Loko the same way they do with every other drink."
According to Squance, safety is the first priority.
"I just want students to be responsible and safe," Squance said. "Students know what is right and wrong. They know that if they abuse any substance, bad things can happen."
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According to Hetzel, the temporary ban will not harm sales. The drink was actually decreasing store sales because instead of buying a six pack of beer, students were just buying Four Loko. Hetzel said he believes beer sales will increase once Four Loko is off the shelves.
Hetzel said he predicts Oxford Spirits will be sold out of Four Loko soon.
An employee at Oxford Spirits said the store was down to five cans after the weekend of Nov. 20. They said it was the biggest Four Loko weekend they have ever had and they were sold out before Thanksgiving Day.
Although Four Loko will no longer be offered in liquor stores, other similar alcoholic energy drinks are still available.
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