Will the FDA Put Its Foot Down? Freaky Facts About Four Loko

When we recently posted a piece on Four Loko and the dangers of mixing caffeine with booze, it received nearly 50 comments. You guys had a lot to say on the topic, including some very terrifying stories of chugging one Loko and blacking out or waking up with a killer hangover. And Cosmo readers aren't the only ones; a site called fourlokostories.com, a forum with the tagline "What the F happened last night?" where users can recount their scary experiences with the drink, recently popped up too.

Well, the FDA may have been reading these comments and anecdotes too, because they're now threatening to ban alcoholic energy drinks nationwide. (Plus, check out these drinking smarts that could save your rep and your health!)

Related: Go Retro and Sip These Classic Cocktails Instead

They believe Four Loko and other caffeinated alcoholic drinks are "unsafe" and "the combinations pose a public health concern" that "may lead to hazardous and life-threatening situations".

The letters also stated that if the companies don't comply with the suggestions outlined and continue to sell caffeinated booze, the FDA could take further action-like actually seizing the products from store shelves.

Related: Decode a Guy by How He Handles a Drink

And a new study has found that there's another scary side effect to drinking these: people who do it are more likely to become alcohol dependent. It's not just those who sip Four Lokos and Sparks, either. CNN reported: "Combining caffeine and alcohol can pose a risk to young people even when the substances aren't mixed in the same can or cup. College students who consume nonalcoholic energy drinks such as Red Bull at least once a week are more than twice as likely as their peers to show signs of alcohol dependence, including withdrawal symptoms and an inability to cut back on drinking, according to the study."

Do you think alcoholic energy drinks should be banned nationwide? Have you ever tried Four Loko? If so, share your story below.

The models are used for illustrative purposes only; cosmopolitan does not suggest that the models actually engage in the conduct discussed in the stories they illustrate.

Read more at Cosmopolitan.com!

Become a fan of Cosmo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Want More Sex & Love Advice? Subscribe to Cosmo & Save Up to 77%!