Four Loko, and caffeinated alcoholic beverages like it, have been officially banned by the Food and Drug Administration. "Blackout in a can" as these drinks have been nicknamed, are commonly sold in 23.5 ounce cans with up to a 12% alcohol content and have been compared to drinking four cups of coffee in addition to four cans of beer. This hour we speak with Dr. Michael Takacs, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics about alcohol and caffeine's effects on the body and why these drinks can be dangerous. In the second half hour, we speak with Stephen Larson, Claire Celsi and Tonya Dusold of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission about the future of caffeinated alcoholic beverages in Iowa.
