House Approves Four Loko Ban | The Texas Tribune
Maybe your like
The Best of the Tribune in your Inbox
Keep tabs on Texas politics and policy with our morning newsletter.
Sign up Close Search for: Search Close Skip to contentAbout
Corrections and Clarifications
About The Texas Tribune | Staff | Contact | Send a Confidential Tip | Ethics | Republish Our Work | Jobs | Awards | Corrections | Strategic Plan | Downloads | Documents
Our reporting on all platforms will be truthful, transparent and respectful; our facts will be accurate, complete and fairly presented. When we make a mistake — and from time to time, we will — we will work quickly to fully address the error, correcting it within the story, detailing the error on the story page and adding it to this running list of Tribune corrections. If you find an error, email [email protected].
Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
It could be closing time for alcoholic energy drinks in Texas: The House passed a ban today on malt liquor drinks that contain caffeine, ginseng, taurine or guarana. The bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, import and possession of alcoholic energy drinks, like the infamous Four Loko.
Four Loko is marketed to children and contains the equivalent of five beers and three coffees, said Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, author of the bill. The “FDA does not have the authority to completely ban these beverages,” Alvarado said. Her intention is to stop “the deaths and tragedies that occurred with kids” who were drinking the beverages.
The punch from the House isn’t the first assault on caffeinated alcoholic beverages. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration released a report warning alcoholic energy drink manufacturers that their products were unsafe and should be taken off the shelves. Most manufacturers, including Four Loko, have since removed caffeine and other energy-inducing ingredients from their alcoholic malt beverages.
The energy-alcohol mix induces a “wide awake drunk” state, which leads to increased rates of drunk driving, sexual assault and alcohol poisoning, say supporters of the bill. And the drinks have contributed to some teenager deaths in Texas.
“Banning certain beverages would not stop people from making bad choices,” say opponents of the bill, according to a report from the House Research Organization. Opponents also worry the wording of the bill will ban other over-the-bar favorites with caffeine, such as Red Bull and vodka, and rum and Coke.
Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.
Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.
You've read article this month. You have unlimited free articles remaining because we don't have a paywall.
Texans need the truth. Help us report it.
Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?
Support Independent Texas News
Become a member. Join today.
Choose an amount or learn more about membership.
$18 $20 $25 Other Donate NowYou've read articles this month. You have unlimited free articles remaining because we don't have a paywall.
Texans need the truth. Help us report it.
Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?
Support Independent Texas News
Become a member. Join today.
Choose an amount or learn more about membership.
$18 $20 $25 Other Donate Now
Becca Aaronson
[email protected]- x
Becca Aaronson was the first product manager at the Tribune, where she worked from 2010 to 2018. As product manager, Becca managed the Tribune's website redesign, coordinates cross-departmental projects... More by Becca Aaronson
READ MORE
Congressman Wesley Hunt draws scrutiny for missed votes amid campaign for U.S. Senate
Jan. 23, 2026
As winter storm approaches, Texas officials say the state is ready, won’t repeat 2021 catastrophe
Jan. 21, 2026Jan. 23, 2026, 12:33 p.m. Central
After vicious 2024 cycle, Texas House GOP primaries see quieter landscape defined by tort battle
Jan. 23, 2026
Removal of LGBTQ+ option from 988 hotline is straining overburdened Texas crisis centers
Jan. 23, 2026
Understanding Texas’ big investment in dementia research
Dec. 22, 2025Jan. 21, 2026, 11:48 a.m. Central January 21, 2026 View More Eventslatest from our reporters
An arctic storm is expected to blanket the state. Here’s what Texans can expect.
By Colleen DeGuzman Jan. 21, 2026Jan. 22, 2026, 9:18 p.m. CentralTexas defends law requiring schools to post Ten Commandments. Here’s what to know.
by Jaden Edison Jan. 20, 2026Jan. 22, 2026, 8:49 p.m. CentralWebb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, brother of Rep. Henry Cuellar, indicted on federal fraud charges
by Eleanor Klibanoff Jan. 22, 2026Texas leads the nation in supplying new residents to other states
By Mike Schneider Associated Press Jan. 22, 2026Federal appeals court rehears challenge against Texas’ immigration law
by Alejandro Serrano Jan. 22, 2026Jan. 22, 2026, 1:29 p.m. CentralHow Texans can prepare for extreme weather
By Julia Guilbeau Dec. 11, 2023Jan. 22, 2026, 10:38 a.m. CentralHow Texans can prepare for this weekend’s winter weather
by María Méndez Jan. 21, 2026Jan. 22, 2026, 10:05 a.m. CentralTexas lieutenant governor primary: Who is running and what to know
by Renzo Downey Jan. 22, 2026Former Uvalde schools officer found not guilty in trial over his response to Robb Elementary shooting
By Valerie Gonzalez and Jim Vertuno, Associated Press Jan. 21, 2026New red-leaning congressional seat in North Texas draws wide-open GOP primary field
by Olivia Borgula Jan. 22, 2026Link Copy link
Tag » Why Was Four Loko Banned
-
Why Four Loko Alcoholic Beverage Removed Caffeine - Esquire
-
Four Loko - Wikipedia
-
Why Was Four Loko Controversial? - Resource Center
-
Four Loko Drops Caffeine From Controversial Alcoholic Energy Drink
-
Why Is Four Lokos Banned In So Many Places? - Quora
-
FDA Deems Four Loko Dangerous And Removes From Shelves
-
Four Loko Is Back—but This Time In China, Where It Is Called "lose ...
-
R.I.P. Four Loko, 2005–2014 - The Atlantic
-
Frequently Asked Questions | Four Loko Caffeine, Is Four Loko…
-
Banned Four Loko Gets New Use As Auto Fuel - NBC News
-
Q: Is Four Loko Currently Banned Or Illegal Anywhere?
-
Four Loko Banned In Michigan - Los Angeles Times
-
Four Loko Spurs Buzzy Booze Ban
-
Four Loko Maker To Drop Caffeine From Drinks - The New York Times