Four Loko Ban is No-Joko
So in case you haven’t heard, the lastest drinking craze that has hit the nation is 4 Loko. It’s an alcoholic/energy drink – inside it has the equivalent to about 5 beers and a helluva strong cup of coffee. Oh yeah, and it sells for about $3-4. AKA a wonderful price for all the broke people of the world who enjoy going out.
Mmm Loko.
The FDA is in the talks from banning the sale on all energy drink/alcohol combination beverages. Senator Chuck Schumer said this is “a giant step forward in keeping our kids safe from these toxic and dangerous brews.” Actually Chuckie m’boy, I couldn’t agree less.
I completely understand that the combination of a depressant and a stimulant is no bueno. However, what I feel really annoyed about is the fact that it’s the drinks themselves that are being attacked; the irresponsible behavior of underage drinking and selling of alcohol, etc. surrounding 4 Loko should be the main issue here instead.
Because let’s face it; irresponsible drinking is irresponsible drinking. You have to know how much you can handle. Whether it’s 4 Loko or a crazy amount of shots, if you throw caution into the wind, either way you may end up sick from alcohol. Underage drinkers will get their alcohol still, mark my words. It just happens that Four Loko was an insanely cheap option for them.
I just don’t get how the banning of sales of 4 Loko (from technically legal adult drinkers…) will stop teenagers from dying over another alcoholic product and or fad. I mean, just a few months back, I heard the stupidest thing in the world: in order to get drunk faster, kids would pour vodka into their EYEBALL. I mean…REALLY? Obviously the problem lies a LOT deeper than Four Loko. (I can’t make this stuff up, for serious…if you are not faint of heart, look up videos of this on youtube!)
Because here’s the thing…crazy youth will always be crazy youth. And if you ban Four Loko, it’ll just be something else in a couple of months. I don’t think a ban is the right step towards improvement. Banning the drink may stop a certain number of people from attaining the drink; however, it does nothing to teach good judgement.
I’m curious to see how this all goes. What will come next? Are they going to prohibit bars and clubs from making the ever so popular alcohol/caffeine combos such as Vodka/Red Bulls? Rum and Cokes? It’s pretty much standard knowledge that caffeine and alcohol have been drank in combination for a long, long time.
They may take their Four Lokos, but they’ll never take their FREEDOM…to continue drinking caffeine/booze cocktails elsewhere.
Pot versus alcohol; the age-old debate.
Now I can hear you saying to yourself, “This girl likes to blog about Bieber, hoodies, and music. Why is she writing on a heavy topic such as marijuana legalization?”
My answer is that I find the topic interesting – and also…I fooled you! It is about music – specificially a song, by the British rap group called The Streets.
Their song “The Irony of It All” is clever as all hell; it’s a conversation between a pothead named Tim and a gentlemen with a penchant for drinking named Terry. While it’s meant to be witty and perhaps make you chortle (I like using fun synonyms for “giggle”) it drives home many serious points. Here:
Hello, Hello. My names Terry and I’m a law abider.
There’s nothing I like more than getting fired up on beer.
And when the weekends here I to exercise my right to get paralytic and fight.
Good bloke fairly.
But I get well leery when geezers look at me funny.
Bounce ‘em round like bunnies.
I’m likely to cause mischief.
Good clean grief you must believe and I ain’t no thief.
Law abiding and all, all legal.
And who cares about my liver when it feels good.
What you need is some real manhood.
Rasher Rasher Barney and Kasha putting peoples backs up.
Public disorder, I’ll give you public disorder.
I down eight pints and run all over the place.
Spit in the face of an officer.
See if that bothers you cause I never broke a law in my life.
Someday I’m gonna settle down with a wife.
Come on lads lets have another fight.
Oh hello. My names Tim and I’m a criminal.
In the eyes of society I need to be in jail.
For the choice of herbs I inhale.
This ain’t no wholesale operation.
Just a few eighths and some Playstations my’s vocation.
I pose a threat to the nation.
And down the station the police hold no patience.
Let’s talk space and time.
I like to get deep sometimes and think about Einstein.
And Carl Jung And old Kung Fu movies I like to see.
Pass the hydrator please.
Yeah I’m floating on thin air.
Going to Amsterdam in the New Year – top gear there.
Cause I taker pride in my hobby.
Home made bongs using my engineering degree.
Dear Leaders, please legalise weed for these reasons.
Like I was saying to him.
I told him: “Top with me and you won’t leave.”
So I smacked him in the head and downed another Carling.
Bada Bada Bing for the lad’s night.
Mad fight, his face’s a sad sight.
Vodka and Snake Bite.
Going on like a right geez, he’s a twat.
Shouldn’t have looked at me like that.
Anyway I’m an upstanding citizen.
If a war came along I’d be on the front line with em.
Can’t stand crime either them hooligans on heroin.
Drugs and criminals those thugs on the penny coloured will be the downfall of society.
I’ve got all the anger pent up inside of me.
You know I don’t see why I should be the criminal.
How can something with no recorded fatalities be illegal?
And how many deaths are there per year from alcohol?
I just completed Gran Turismo on the hardest setting.
We pose no threat on my settee.
Ooh the pizza’s here will someone let him in please?
We didn’t order chicken; not a problem we’ll pick it out.
I doubt they meant to mess us about.
After all we’re all adults not louts.
As I was saying, we’re friendly peaceful people.
We’re not the ones out there causing trouble.
We just sit in this hazy bubble with our quarters
Discussing how beautiful Gail Porter is.
MTV, BBC 2, Channel 4 is on until six in the morning.
Then at six in the morning the sun dawns and it’s my bedtime.
Causing trouble, your stinking rabble.
Boys saying I’m the lad who’s spoiling it.
You’re on drugs it really bugs me when people try and tell me I’m a thug
Just for getting drunk.
I like getting drunk.
Cause I’m an upstanding citizen.
If a war came along I’d be on the front line with em.
Now Terry you’re repeating yourself.
But that’s okay drunk people can’t help that.
A chemical reaction inside your brain causes you to forget what you’re saying.
What. I know exactly what I’m saying!
I’m perfectly sane.
You stinking student lameo.
Go get a job and stop robbing us of our taxes.
Err, well actually according to research
Government funding for further education pales in insignificance
When compared to how much they spend on repairing
Leery drunk people at the weekend
In casualty wards all over the land.
Why you cheeky little swine – come here
I’m gonna batter you. Come here!
I honestly won’t even be writing to you that much during this blog my dear readers; the lyrics say it all. Everything that Tim says makes 100% perfect sense. If you are against both drinking and smoking, well that’s a-ok; at least you’re in the same boat. But if you blaspheme all potheads, while you yourself enjoy getting your drink on, think about it.
I’m not saying go out, buy a piece, wear a Bob Marley t-shirt, and smoke the reefer (Super Troopers anyone?). All I’m saying is think about it, and the irony of it all.
-M.Ellen
