[rant on]
A couple of years ago I started seeing this in 'convenience' stores (probably out earlier but I don't peruse the liquor shelves). A woman I know and have lived with (unfortunately) started drinking this stuff without knowing its strength; I noted this after her mean drunk behavior became much more frequent.
It contains 12% alcohol plus a lot of caffeine; that is 24 proof, or more than a strong wine and twice the legal limit of alcoholic drinks sold in grocery stores. And it is sold in 24 ounce cans, which is the volume of two beers. Now 2 beers consumed inside and hour is going to put a thin woman over the 0.8% drunk driving limit (DWI) and well over the 0.5% DWAI limit in this state. The caffeine makes the drunk even more obnoxious, and for some who drink and get drowsy, it keeps them awake to drink even more.
Basically I don't see why this stuff even is legally sold inconvenience stores where everyone over 21 can imbibe and become quickly intoxicated for about $6 (eg, buying and drinking two of them). When it came out in NYS, there was a lot of talk in the news about banning this dangerous drink, but the liquor producers (likely) paid off the best state government their money can buy, and it became legal.
I've too often seen the effects of this stuff, and there are still a lot drunk driving arrests on the Police Blotter and empty beer, including four loco and the flavored malt drink cans pitched out of cars to avoid the state's "Open Container" law. Plus the fairly frequent alcohol-caused crashes, injuries, and fatalities, especially from repeat offenders represented by well-seasoned lawyers.
I guess I've had way more than enough exposure to alcoholics and their bad behavior. (I might drink the equivalent of a six pack of beer and two or three glasses of wine per YEAR. So I can see drinking a little is OK. But enough is quite enough.
OK.Now that is off my chest. [/rant off]



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