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[–]hasnothingtosay 214 points215 points ago

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I think you just got robbed.

[–]XivSpew 78 points79 points ago

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The FDA isn't seizing anything for 15 (now, 13) days while the companies involved "reformulate" the drinks. Meaning whoever took all your drinks must've had a convincing looking fake badge.

[–]Zweben 10 points11 points ago

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That doesn't make any sense to me. Reformulating the drinks isn't going to change what's already on shelves, why would the FDA hold off on seizing products currently in stores because of that?

[–]XivSpew 12 points13 points ago

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According to this handy dandy legal doc (warning: PDF), the FDA has to step lightly before going all-out and seizing merchandise left and right, especially from multiple corporations.

I'm interpreting the letter sent a few days ago as them drawing their line in the sand rather than a declaration of seizure, but I could be wrong. Regardless, I've never heard of the FDA going from "You better fix this" to "OMG PULL IT ALL BLAGGABLAGGA" in 2 days.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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The FDA is a spineless organization that has extremely limited authority to restrict the sale of dangerous products. They do not have the authority seize harmful merchandise.

[–]drbeer 0 points1 point ago

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Source? I have been out of touch with these four loko bannings

[–]XivSpew 5 points6 points ago

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here ye go. Also, that source says:

The FDA has no authority to ban the products outright.

which makes me further question the legitimacy of the OP's FDA seizure.

[–]drbeer 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks. I guess I fail to see the big deal, people have been drinking red bull and vodka for years. I've had Joose (which I guess is similar to 4 Loko) and thought it tasted like battery acid.

[–]XivSpew 6 points7 points ago

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The day red bull vodkas are banned is the day New Jersey is engulfed in flame.

[–]zavoid 31 points32 points ago

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I think he got loko'd

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago*

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That doesn't make any sense.

But on Four Loko it does.

Four Loko. Not even once.

[–]hrtattx 138 points139 points ago

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Yeah the Federal Reserve stopped my house today too to confiscate all my money. Thought it was kinda weird but whatever.

[–]noonches 57 points58 points ago

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Wallet inspector.

- Here you go, I believe that's all in order.

[–]mistermoxy 33 points34 points ago

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Hey... that's not the usual wallet inspector.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

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Hey, wrong coin purse buddy, but i appreciate the sentiment

[–]karmabook 2 points3 points ago

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At least it was a positive diagnosis.

[–]Smeevy 4 points5 points ago

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He trades shifts with the bikini inspector.

[–]Crochetyoldtimer 5 points6 points ago

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When I was your age we had to inspect our own wallets.

Do you realize how hard it is to steal from yourself?

[–]nothing_clever 3 points4 points ago

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You didn't really think you're such a shady little noonches you could get away with that, did you?

[–]noonches 1 point2 points ago

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Clearly, I am.

[–]PacketScan 57 points58 points ago

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You got robbed. All we heard was no more orders or delivery and stuck with any stock to sell off.

[–]suspicious666[S] 33 points34 points ago*

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They were legit. My district manager is at the store right now figuring this whole thing out. It's my day off.

EDIT: The employee could have been wrong, and it was the corporate office. I don't, and won't, give a fuck until I go to work tomorrow. However SOME guys did stop by, with some paperwork that obviously had the letters FDA strewn throughout, and the employee assumed.

[–]DGer 76 points77 points ago

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"I'm not even supposed to BE here today."

[–]CowboyBoats 6 points7 points ago

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Try not to suck any dicks on your way to the parking lot!

[–]Slipgrid 6 points7 points ago

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"I'm supposed to retire this week!"

[–]abk0100 2 points3 points ago

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I'm gettin too old for dis shit.

[–]Zweben 20 points21 points ago

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How do you know they were legit?

[–]getinthevan 47 points48 points ago

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because they said so

[–]PacketScan 19 points20 points ago

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Sounds like how i lost my virginity

[–]LonelyNixon 9 points10 points ago

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By stealing 4loko from a convenience store?

[–]midnightmoonbeam 3 points4 points ago

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Sounds about right.

[–]drbeer 3 points4 points ago

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Did he look like this guy?

http://imgur.com/NGb7F.jpg

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Your employee could have formulated this whole idea. It would explain why he just let it happen instead of calling a manager.

[–]Quasimofo 19 points20 points ago

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I'm going to try this "were confiscating all your patron and red bull, I'm from the DOE, my partner from the department of labor has some questions about your frozen pizzas."

[–]CuntSmellersAndSons 10 points11 points ago

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I'm pretty sure the pizzas would be under the jurisdiction of the DOJ since they're frozen.

[–]SnacklePop 4 points5 points ago

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And pizzas.

[–]glassuser 12 points13 points ago

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This sounds completely legit.

I think I'm going to try this today too!

[–]Vee_Vee 29 points30 points ago

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Did their badges look like this, because that's not the FDA?

[–]daychilde 6 points7 points ago

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Hey, that's the badge number I have on my luggage!

[–]reverendnathan 8 points9 points ago

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Wait, are they actually seizing products? I just thought they were sending letters out warning manufactures of health risks:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm234109.htm

I agree. I think you were robbed.

[–]douchymcface 5 points6 points ago

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holy shit i think you got robbed by the most brilliant college students ever.

[–]nanowerx 43 points44 points ago

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This shit is getting out of hand. So what if it has juice in it or is an energy drink....IT HAS FUCKING ALCOHOL IN IT AND YOU CAN ONLY FIND IT IN THE BEER COOLER!!!!! This nanny state crap is starting to piss me off. I am a responsible adult who doesnt care for alcohol too much (Im a toker) but when I do drink I like stuff like Sparks or Four Loko because it gets me buzzed quick without too much 'alcohol' taste. So now, because "oh my God, kids might get it," I am being denied.

Land of the free?

[–][deleted] 33 points34 points ago

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The whole thing is just a ridiculous witch hunt. CDC reports that there are ~90,000 Medicare discharges for drugs and alcohol every year. This makes up 8% of the Medicare cost in the US. Of that 8%, 4.8% is spent exclusively on alcohol related hospitalizations. Assuming that cost is relatively similar between drug hospitalizations and alcohol hospitalizations that works out to ~54,000 people being admitted to the hospital for binge-drinking (or ~1000 cases/week). All it took was 9 students blacking out to have the government up in arms. That's less than 1% of all alcohol related hospitalizations. If you add in the number of people who blacked out without seeking medical attention that number would almost certainly be even lower.

Big alcohol saw a product that was undercutting their market by having a high ABV, a low cost, and staying somewhat palatable (at least for the standard poor-college crowd). In Q2 of 2010, the 7 largest alcohol lobbying groups spent 6.46 million dollars to make sure the FDA would protect our children from the big, bad wolf that is alcohol and caffeine.

SOURCES: Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, The Cost of Substance Abuse to America's Health Care System, Report 1: Medicaid Hospital Costs, 1994.

http://www.marininstitute.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=531:big-alcohol-ramps-up-congressional-lobbying-dollars-2q-2010&catid=38&Itemid=9

[–]KorgRue 6 points7 points ago

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I don't know if I buy into your theory entirely. The products will still be on the market, with the same taste, same cost, and same ABV. They are just removing the caffeine. They will still eat into the larger alcohol manufacturers profits, and they will still be sold everywhere.

With that in mind, what gain would the lobbyist have in lobbying to get the caffeine removed? I can still buy a can of Four Loco and grab a can of Red Bull in the cooler right next to it if I really wanted the caffeine. Shit, I can drop a cheap ass NoDoze into the can if it was really that important to me.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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I hadn't considered this, it makes me wonder why 4loko and and its kin were chosen as the scapegoat here. I guess the media always needs to find something that is going to erode our youth and kill us.

Example: http://kill-or-cure.heroku.com/

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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Way to conflate the issues. Medicare pays for healthcare for the elderly.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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My apologies, you're totally right. Medicare had the most readily available complete statistics about their hospitalizations so I used those figures. I'm not going to dedicate too much more time to researching this but another quick search turns up a report by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that includes a more recent and more inclusive set of numbers.

Here are the number of estimated emergency room visits where alcohol abuse was a major factor in the last 5 years available (The number in parenthesis is the number which were underage, just for reference):

  • 2004 - 674,914 (204,910)
  • 2005 - 527,198 (158,393)
  • 2006 - 577,521 (183,257)
  • 2007 - 634,652 (196,204)
  • 2008 - 656,892 (189,998)

These numbers are far more accurate for the sake of my argument anyways; these 9 kids represent a TINY fraction of a percent of the alcohol problems in the US. I won't argue that 4Loko is safe but the fact that the government is trying to vilify this one subset of alcohol products crying "Won't someone think of the children?!" is hypocritical and obnoxious.

SOURCE

United States. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Office of Applied Studies. Drug Abuse Warning Network. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/data/default.asp?met=All.

[–]steamfolk 9 points10 points ago

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Exactly, it's not the government that gives a fuck, it's the b ig beer companies that are getting their legs cut out from under them.

[–]reddituser34 1 point2 points ago

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bullshit, everything's a fucking conspiracy. Big beer companies would just buy out these companies or come out with a competing brand using their already large market share of non caffeinated beers as leverage to launch the new product.

[–]penguinv 0 points1 point ago

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/me mumbles, "Follow the money."

[–]AndroidHelp 6 points7 points ago

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The kids can't handle their shit, it's their fault for Alcohol Poisoning and killing themselves.

[–]johnr11 4 points5 points ago

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Well it's a good thing no one else is gonna be going to the hospital for alcohol related issues because of this policy...oh wait.

[–]ispringer 1 point2 points ago

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Hey, it's for the children... or something...

[–]douchymcface 1 point2 points ago

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you drink it for the taste???????? fourloko tastes like pure gasoline. you want taste, have a mike's hard lemonade or something.

[–]JohnMatt 1 point2 points ago

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Alcoholic drinks with caffeine in them can be a danger to even an experienced drinker. The caffeine allows a person to drink more alcohol than the body could normally handle without passing out, which clearly makes it easier to get alcohol poisoning.

Now, that doesn't mean I think they should be outlawed or seized or something. But I do think it's an additional danger that people should be aware of.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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But I do think it's an additional danger that people should be aware of.

How about cigarette package-style surgeon general warnings? Like, big ones?

[–]RockKillsKid 1 point2 points ago

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Wait, we should put a label that says, "This will get you drunker quicker" on something that's mainly marketed to college kids?

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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I was thinking more like

Surgeon General's Warning:

THIS WILL FUCK YOUR SHIT UP DUDE, LIKE, FUCKING KILL YOU BRO

[–]easyIsle -1 points0 points ago

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who wasn't aware? the kids that aren't allowed to buy or consume them , thats who.

[–]KorgRue 2 points3 points ago

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The product will still be on the market, with the same taste, and same ABV. It just wont have caffeine in it. Caffeine and Taurine add no flavor. They are just reformulating to remove the Caffeine and Taurine. How are you being denied?

Shit dude, if the caffeine is so important to you, just pick up a can of red bull with it.

[–]nanowerx 4 points5 points ago

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Maybe you like choices taken from you, but I don't... and fuck Red Bull, that stuff is quite nasty.

[–]KorgRue -2 points-1 points ago

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Nobody is taking any choice from you. You can still consume both products - alcohol and caffeine. Their concern is the fact that the caffeine is masking the effects of the alcohol - which it is. This is why they are having a high rate of hospital visits from people drinking the product. It is unsafe as it is and the FDA is doing their job by protecting the consumer.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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So if I add caffeine to my new Four Loko, can I be arrested?

[–]KorgRue 0 points1 point ago*

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No, because the FDA is not making the product illegal. Making it illegal would require them to get it scheduled as an illicit drug- which in turn would make caffeine itself illegal (and analogues). They are only putting pressure on the companies to reformulate. This is just like when the FDA requested cold medicine manufacturers to remove acetaminophen from the cold remedies .

The last thing you want as a food product manufacturer is to piss off the FDA.

[–]abk0100 0 points1 point ago

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How are we being denied... besides having our right to buy and sell things what we want taken away for inane reasons

[–]reddituser34 -1 points0 points ago

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then you agree we should be able to buy and sell rocket launchers for personal use.

[–]abk0100 0 points1 point ago

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Then you think that stopping people from owning rocket propelled missiles is "inane"?

Besides, denying the sale of rocket launchers is taking away one of our rights. That doesn't mean banning them is exclusively the wrong thing to do, but don't claim that certain choices we make are somehow not included within our rights.

[–]KorgRue -1 points0 points ago

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Nobody is banning 4loco. The FDA has just requested that the caffeine be removed. Otherwise the product remains the same.

Remember last year the FDA requested that Acetomoniphen be removed form cold remedy's because people were killing their livers due to overuse? It is kind of like that.

There is no need for the added caffeine in the product other than to "mask" the effects of the alcohol. That is potentially much more dangerous than the alcohol itself.

[–]abk0100 1 point2 points ago

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"Nobody is banning alcoholic drinks. The FDA has just requested that the alcohol be removed. Otherwise the products remain the same."

There is no need for caffeine to be added to this product, except for the fact that we are guaranteed the preservation of our rights by the government, and this is one of them.

Seeing as people are free to add their own caffeine to any drink, this ban is equivalent to making rocket launchers legal, and making it legal to sell both rocket launchers and rockets, but banning the sale of launchers and rockets being sold in the same case. The same store: perfectly legal, but the same case? criminal.

[–]KorgRue -2 points-1 points ago*

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Consumption of intoxicating substances is not a right. Your rights are defined in the first 10 amendments of the constitution. Those are the only rights that the US government is required to afford you.

Sale and consumption laws for alcohol is allocated to the state level by the 21st Amendment, and those laws are considered privileges - not rights. Thus you have legal age laws and dry counties.

That includes all "intoxicating" substances. You choose to use the words "preservation of rights". By doing so, you are specifically referring to your constitutional rights as a US citizen. As such, you have no preserved "rights" as defined by the bill of rights to consume them.

None of your comparisons - rockets, rocket launchers - are relevant in any way since you are specifically referring to your constitutional rights - of which you have none when if comes to the issue of caffeine in your alcohol.

[–]abk0100 2 points3 points ago

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Your rights are defined in the first 10 amendments of the constitution. Those are the only rights that the US government is required to afford you.

I think I'm going to cry.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Does this sound familiar? If you've heard it but didn't understand it, it basically says: The people are guaranteed the right to do anything they want; the Federal government may only step in if they are granted the power to do so by the Constitution.

Here is what James Madison had to say about the first 10 amendments:

I find, from looking into the amendments proposed by the State conventions, that several are particularly anxious that it should be declared in the Constitution, that the powers not therein delegated should be reserved to the several States. Perhaps words which may define this more precisely than the whole of the instrument now does, may be considered as superfluous. I admit they may be deemed unnecessary: but there can be no harm in making such a declaration, if gentlemen will allow that the fact is as stated. I am sure I understand it so, and do therefore propose it.

The Bill of Rights, even when it was ratified, was acknowledge to be completely unnecessary. It neither grants nor guarantees us a single right, because the Constitution had already clearly explained the limits of the Federal Government; that infringing upon the rights of the people in a way that is not explicitly allowed is illegal.

Would you acknowledge that you understand this please? It depresses me that there are people who so severely misunderstand the rules by which their government operates.

[–]KorgRue -2 points-1 points ago

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Does this sound familiar? If you've heard it but didn't understand it, it basically says: The people are guaranteed the right to do anything they want; the Federal government may only step in if they are granted the power to do so by the Constitution.

Which they have. Thus the product is being removed - as they reserve the power to do.

Your CONSTITUTIONAL rights are clearly defined. None of them say you have the right to consume intoxicating substances. You are afforded the PRIVILEGE to do so unless you abuse that privilege and it endangers others, or the product inherently endangers you and action is decided upon.

he Bill of Rights, even when it was ratified, was acknowledge to be completely unnecessary. It neither grants nor guarantees us a single right, because the Constitution had already clearly explained the limits of the Federal Government; that infringing upon the rights of the people in a way that is not explicitly allowed is illegal.

The Bill of rights defines those rights which the federal government cannot make laws that infringe upon, nullify, or otherwise interfere with (liable to court definition). Nothing more. Nothing less. There is nothing in there that guarantees you protection against them taking away your caffeine from your alcohol.

It depresses me that there are people who so severely misunderstand the rules by which their government operates.

It does me as well. Clearly you have a very "unique" understanding about the difference between Constitutional rights, and privileges.

[–]KorgRue -1 points0 points ago

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You cant by crack legally either.

Not that 4loco is anywhere near as toxic, but we have an FDA to monitor and control potentially harmful food products. That is a good thing - even if your libertarian views are against it.

If the caffeine is so important to you, pick up a red bull in the freeze next to the 4loco. Nobody is stopping you from doing so.

[–]abk0100 1 point2 points ago

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Yes, my right to buy crack is being denied to, and this is a bad thing, even if your authoritarian nanny-state views (or whatever you want to call having the government decide for the people what they can and cannot do with their own body) are for it.

[–]KorgRue -2 points-1 points ago

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Yes, we should have a nation full of crack addicts walking around unrestricted. Because that is great for society.

[–]abk0100 1 point2 points ago

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Yes we should have use our taxes to pay people to put people who use drugs in jail. Because that is the best way to handle things.

[–]KorgRue -1 points0 points ago

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Completely irrelevant in all ways to the scope of this conversation. We are not talking about jailing people for drinking alcohol with caffeine. We are talking about protecting the consumer from the increased dangers of an already dangerous product.

Lets see if I can lob a straw man in as well - since that seems to be what we are doing...

KFC abuses their chickens.

Also, you might want to freshen up on your Reddiquette. You seem to be a bit rusty.

http://www.reddit.com/help/reddiquette

[–]abk0100 0 points1 point ago

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If the legality of crack is completely irrelevant than why did you bring it up?

[–]KorgRue 0 points1 point ago

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I am referring to the irrelevancy of introducing arresting people over illicit drugs to the conversation, which is the direction you tried to take it.

I don't think people should be arrested from drug use. I think they should be treated for it. But again, that is a completely different topic.

[–]ZombieDracula 0 points1 point ago*

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Home of the knave.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]Gimpy8877 4 points5 points ago

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Knave

[–]Afro_Samurai -2 points-1 points ago

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You're so oppressed

[–]ohiguy -3 points-2 points ago

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I'm a toker too and I think this shit should be banned. Some people aren't smart enough to understand the danger. The caffeine keeps you so hyped you don't recognize the danger signs of how drunk you are. This is why they call it knock out juice. Also, I took one drink of it one time and I caught a buzz, seriously.

[–]abk0100 2 points3 points ago

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Taking away our rights to protect a minority of stupid people was never how our country was supposed to work.

[–]ohiguy -1 points0 points ago

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There is a big difference between theory and reality. "How things were suppose to work" and the actual situation on the ground. We have to deal with the reality, not the theory.

No one is taking away your rights. You can still buy caffeine drinks and alcoholic drinks and mix them together.

This is a bunch of hand waving over drinks that taste like shit, even according to some people who like drinking them.

[–]abk0100 2 points3 points ago

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The reality is that the government is taking away our rights to sell and buy things that don't directly harm anyone. The "theory" is that banning this drink will somehow improve America.

also, "supposed," not "suppose."

[–]Ghstfce 6 points7 points ago

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You know who else targeted the Joose...

[–]cap0319 28 points29 points ago

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Yes, because millions of deaths from alcohol abuse are just fine, but a couple idiots with alcohol+energy drinks win Darwin awards and we gotta start banning shit.

FDA, I be disappoint.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points ago

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WE SHOULD JUST BAN ALCOHOL.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

[–]L-J-N 35 points36 points ago

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WE SHOULD JUST BAN CHILDREN!

[–]cid222 5 points6 points ago

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THINK OF THE ALCOHOL!

[–]jared555 5 points6 points ago

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Sterilizing the planet would probably actually be the most humane option if we keep going down the path we are on now

[–]cid222 7 points8 points ago

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You first.

[–]getinthevan 8 points9 points ago

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THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

that's what Kid Beer is for

[–]nanowerx 1 point2 points ago

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Baby Beer is where it's at, buddy, Baby Beer.

[–]tcpip4lyfe 0 points1 point ago

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ITLL WORK THIS TIME! BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN!

[–]byleth 0 points1 point ago

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Fuck the children! I know you are just being sarcastic, but seriously we should just let Darwin sort the winners from the losers.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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I heard on NPR that they were declaring caffeine to be a dangerous additive to alcohol.

I guess we can't buy Irish coffee any more...

Edit:

"New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer stole some of the agency's thunder with a release Tuesday that said the agency is expected to "effectively ban" by ruling that caffeine is an "unsafe food additive" for drinks containing alcohol."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/11/17/131381416/bowing-to-pressure-maker-of-four-loko-to-drop-caffeine

[–]shillbert 1 point2 points ago

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I don't think it applies to Irish coffee, since no caffeine is being added. It's already in the coffee.

[–]abk0100 0 points1 point ago

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I don't think that's true.

[–]jared555 -3 points-2 points ago

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Caffine is an unsafe food additive in general, putting it in with alcohol just adds even more problems.

[–]skooma714 1 point2 points ago

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I certainly don't advise mixing stim and depressants.

[–]cid222 0 points1 point ago

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If you're not mixing stimulants and depressants, you're doing it wrong.

[–]skooma714 -1 points0 points ago

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Police abuse tasers left and right, but they simply must have them.

A couple of kids get fucked up even though they could have done the same thing by mixing soft energy drinks and alcohol, IT HAS TO BE BANNED.

[–]CuntSmellersAndSons 6 points7 points ago

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FDA? I thought this was ATF territory... or not?

[–]Afro_Samurai 0 points1 point ago

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ATF

That's after you black out

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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[–]capecodcarl 2 points3 points ago

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Hold the vodka shot glass right up to your eyeball and then inject the steaming hot cup of coffee into your rectum with a turkey baster. That's how all the cool kids are getting high these days and staying up all night to party!

[–]AppleAtrocity 0 points1 point ago

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I laughed really loud at 3 AM. Thanks.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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I'm good with ECA stacking, thanks.

[–]danbfree 4 points5 points ago

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...all of the caffeinated beers, besides Sparks...

Sparks hasn't caffeine in it for over 2 years... You work selling alcoholic beverages and don't know this?

[–]suspicious666[S] -1 points0 points ago

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I don't pay close attention to every single product that we carry. It's a convenience store. We carry everything.

[–]danbfree 0 points1 point ago

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I guess I can understand but you would think it might make you curious why they didn't take the Sparks and go over and look or ask why... Anyway thanks for sharing the original story!

[–]suspicious666[S] 0 points1 point ago

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Heh. Actually I only stopped in briefly to buy smokes. I guess I could have been more curious, but I had a date with the gf. I bolted.

[–]Baizi 11 points12 points ago

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Best buy just walked in my apartment and grabbed every electronic device I own. Wait... there goes my laptop

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points ago*

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Hey, at least they finished your comment for you.

[–]Smeevy 5 points6 points ago

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In italics, no less.

[–]Baizi 0 points1 point ago

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They were nice enough.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

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I call shenanigans.

[–]philibuster 2 points3 points ago

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I'm just gonna buy the caffeine free 4loco's and a 5 hour energy and shotgun the 5 hour energy. It'll be great but cost a little more.

[–]easyIsle 0 points1 point ago

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pick up some caffeine pills from your local walgreens / cvs. The store brand is like $3 for 25 pills , 200 mg. A red bull or a 5 hr energy both contain 80... so split the pill in half.

But .. yeah 5 hour energy does work with a bit less of the caffeine side effects. that may be worth it to you

[–]philibuster 0 points1 point ago

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Sounds like a great idea.

[–]bolllocks 2 points3 points ago

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"Hi, We're with the FDA Flashes Fake Badge and we're here to confiscate all of your caffeinated alcoholic beverages"... LOL I am doing this tomorrow

[–]KimJongChill 2 points3 points ago

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I don't really care if the FDA bans this caffeinated malt liquor ghetto slime as long as they don't come after my 96 proof gin and the caffeine pills I pop whenever I drink it.

[–]megabucks 3 points4 points ago

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Are they alcoholic energy drinks?

If so the notice on the ban was made public early this week. If not, no the FDA doesn't have to give notice nor Health Canada.

They both have an 'interpretation of regulation' strategy so no matter what action they take, you can't do a thing about it.

If you call in the police to complain about a theft happening, the police will show up and they will enforce the seizure.

The ban is following up heart health concerns, from my background in health, I never found it a smart idea to be mixing blood thinning energy drinks with alcohol, another blood thinner. But that's just my opinion.

[–]gravyleaves 1 point2 points ago

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This seems legit... Would be just as believable if he claimed the vegan police did it.

[–]kilokhan 1 point2 points ago

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It looks like they are only targeting Four Loko. I work at a liquor store in NJ. We marked up all of our Four Loko to around $5 a can because we are no longer allowed to get any more from the distributor, but we can sell what we have left in stock.

They will probably ban it in NJ soon. I recall reading that senator Schumer from NY is trying to get the FDA to ban it entirely (Caffeinted alcoholic beverages). I hadn't yet heard that the FDA effectively banned the stuff, though. I'm pretty sure we'd know about that right away.

We have other highly caffeinated, high-proof alcohol products on sale though; we have a vodka that has caffeine and guarana in it and we can still sell that just fine. Oh well.

[–]KorgRue 6 points7 points ago

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This whole thing is bullshit.

Sparks has been on the market for YEARS. Way before any of these other alcoholic energy drinks were. Sparks never got any FDA attention, now all of a sudden there is a rush to remove them from the market.

This whole attack on the product is ridiculous.

[–]leefyg 1 point2 points ago

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I agree the attack on the product is ridiculous. However, Sparks FORMERLY contained caffeine--because of the same health concerns (caffeine + alcohol), MillerCoors or SABMiller or whatever they are removed caffeine from that product line 1-3 years ago. Wikipedia source)

edit: I'm not sure how to get Wikipedia links to work :/ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks_(drink)

[–]Afro_Samurai 0 points1 point ago

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add an extra )

[–]KorgRue 0 points1 point ago

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It has been years since I drank Sparks, so I had not idea they removed the caffeine. Either way, I just find it interesting that the FDA is only stepping in now. It seems Sparks removed the Caffeine due to their own concerns, not because the FDA requested it (though I could be wrong).

[–]danbfree 2 points3 points ago

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Sparks has not had caffeine for a long time, try reading labels occasionally before freaking out... When Four Loko's came out I tried reading labels to check various caffeine and alcohol content and realized that... Fuck, I don't consume ANY food item just because the government says it safe, I read labels.

[–]KorgRue 0 points1 point ago

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I have not drank Sparks or any other malt shit in a very long time. Last time I drank it, they were still using caffeine.

Either way, my statement still stands. WHEN they WERE using it, nobody batted an eyelash.

[–]danbfree 0 points1 point ago

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Ya, Sparks pulled the caffeine right before anyone really started trippin'... Four and Jooce just thought they could score off the market after that and they did for awhile...

[–]upagainst 2 points3 points ago

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So what state was this in? In other words, should I start stocking up on this stuff (TX)?

[–]easyIsle -1 points0 points ago

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federal. All states

[–]upagainst 1 point2 points ago

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Where did this particular case happen though? I haven't found any other news about this type of thing happening anywhere in the country. My search for similar news wasn't that extensive though.

[–]umilmi81 3 points4 points ago

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You have been protect citizen.

[–]bLazeni 4 points5 points ago

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This is by far the stupidest F'ing ban. I will just start buying 5 hours and 4 lokos and mixing them. The FDA, FCC and any other stupid government type agency can go F off. There will never be a way to stop mixing caffeine and alcohol, unless you ban one or both, and even then you can still get a hold of them.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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I heard of fighting the good fight, but your fight is, well, just stupid. Please let me know when and where you plan to drink your protest drink so I can stay clear away.

[–]bLazeni 0 points1 point ago

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Because me drinking alcohol and caffeine is going to have any effect on you at all. Simply genius, I can't believe that I didn't think how your life would be effected. Maybe you should stay away from bars in general, because jager bombs and rum and cokes are sold there, both of which contain alcohol and caffeine.

[–]NauticalInsanity 7 points8 points ago

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Having read up on these drinks, the moratorium on these is perfectly within the grounds of the FDA. The combination of caffeine and alcohol is particularly nasty as the caffeine reduces some of the side effects of alcohol, making moderated consumption incredibly difficult. Sure it's easy to recreate them by mixing red bull and vodka and the FDA isn't stopping you from doing that, just like the FDA isn't stopping you from making your own rat poison in the basement of your house. And while people should be educated enough to know not to consume rat poison, that doesn't mean the FDA shouldn't have the regulatory authority to stop you from putting it on the shelf and marketing it as edible.

[–]danfanclub 7 points8 points ago

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but it would probably cost 3 times as much to make it yourself, that was the whole point of 4 loco! To go obliterate yourself when you only had $5. Now, you might as well just go with the 40 of Schlitz.

[–]hiddenfalcon 3 points4 points ago

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Where I'm from, that 5 spot would get you the loko and the 40

[–]babybritain 0 points1 point ago

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well they meant either 2 4 lokos or 2 40oz of schlitz

[–]yokhai 5 points6 points ago

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but they are stopping me from buying the stuff to make meth....

HELP HELP IM BEING REPRESSED!!

[–]ViennettaLurker 3 points4 points ago

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Either you got voted down by libertarians, or Monty Python got alot less fashionable in the nerd community.

[–]cid222 0 points1 point ago

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Probablly just the meth mention.

People dislike that for some strange reason...

[–]yokhai 0 points1 point ago

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Exactly. I've always sided with the libertarians. I guess they really don't have a sense of humor.

[–]bogeythrim 2 points3 points ago

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It is not the role of the federal government to save people from themselves. If you want to speed-ball yourself into a coma on four lokos, please, be my guest.

[–]wittyb -2 points-1 points ago

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Just not on my dime. I mean, one is too many, really, but the simple fact of the matter is that most of the time these bingers don't have the fiscal means to support any kind of hospital stay, unless they still happen to be on their parents' insurance. And I'm not sure insurance these days would pay out for a self induced alcohol incident. So, they don't pay, and I end up getting gouged in insurance or taxes next year, because the hospitals/doctors/billing staff have to get their money from somewhere.

The sad thing is that until people learn personal responsibility, it's a lose/lose for me. Either the FDA has to crack down on silly things like this, causing a greater draw in their funding (my taxes), or I have to foot a part of the medical bill, counted as higher insurance rates.

[–]easyIsle 0 points1 point ago

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I bet if you calculated the actual cost caffinated energy drinks are costing you in taxes ... it would be less than a penny in comparison to all the other things your taxes are paying for.

So dont get carried away. Go and fight for a problem that will actually make a difference to your pocket instead of worrying about taking things away from EVERYONE because SOME people cant handle it.

For example .. how about cigarettes? (These hurt EVERYONE that uses them, and even people who don't via second hand). You have your mission .. good luck.

[–]bogeythrim 1 point2 points ago

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I could prattle on for hours about the big government in bed with big business blah blah blah. Instead lets just go with what easyisle said.

[–]wittyb 1 point2 points ago

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Agreed.

However, I think you missed my point when I said that it is people not taking responsibility for their actions that lead to things such as this. As days go on, I keep reading more and more things that boil down to the statement, "It is not my fault, and the government needs to do something about it."

[–]easyIsle 0 points1 point ago

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Your point is valid , but I dont know why you are making it.

It is NOT my fault they kill themselves with it (is your point that it is partly? I ask only to be sure of your argument).

And you are right-- I shouldnt have to pay those taxes. But if I dont (and if you don't .. even if they increase) ... who will?? No one. We ARE the default .. and that is just a cost of living in this society. There is no other option ... unless you go out there and try to help them stop wasting our taxes. And that is a job so big , no one has done it successfully.

My point is that I agree with you 100%. But bitching about it aint gonna change squat. Might as well go along with your life, paying those stupidass taxes ...doing something that WILL make a difference OR at least accepting you can't.

My main feeling is that I have done everything right .. I am not abusing those substances nor increasing your taxes , therefore I should be allowed to continue using it. Those fuck heads who cant, should not take it away from me. That is far worse then increasing my taxes. In fact I'd be happy to pay a little more taxes so they DONT take things away from me like that.

I hope that makes some sense. I'm kinda high [6]

[–]Ein2015 -1 points0 points ago

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[credible citation needed] for 2nd hand smoke claim.

[–]easyIsle 1 point2 points ago

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well if you agree first hand smoke kills people, smoke coming out of the other end of the cigarette that makes it to my lungs will also do some amount of damage. Yes .. obviously not to teh same degree, but its not improving my health.

If you still need a source to believe that, you are on your own.

[–]Ein2015 1 point2 points ago

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I haven't found a credible source that says 2nd hand smoke is more harmful than the ambient pollution we breath in daily from cars and factories and such.

[–]easyIsle 1 point2 points ago*

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I am not a scientific researcher .. but I would bet you wont find a study because there are far too many unavoidable variables.

Ambient pollution Where? How far away from the cigarette are we measuring? What type of cigarette? Wind currents alone can make your results 0% damage or 100% (all smoke or no smoke reaching you).

Cigarettes are less necessary for your daily life vs the pollution... that I can tell you and hopefully you agree without a source required.

Unless you are OK with going backwards in terms of industrial advances that enable you to have the life you do today (To save a few $ in taxes).... I would stick with the Cigarette cause for now.

Personally, I would rather pay whatever taxes they want me to and focus my life on things that pay far faster than reduced taxes. You and I both pay the same taxes (relatively), so in the end it doesnt matter. You can get ahead far faster if you focus on your income rather than your expenses.

[–]Ein2015 0 points1 point ago

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I'm a bit confused on what message you're trying to say here. Are you arguing in favor of banning cigs completely or just smoking them in public places due to 2nd hand smoke concerns?

Are you telling me that I should pay taxes instead of smoking cigs?

Sorry for the confusion... I just need some elaboration.

[–]easyIsle 0 points1 point ago

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I'm a bit high on adderal right now .. first time i've taken it in a week so. Lets see if i can clarify my last reply:

You asked for a source for the comment "2nd hand smoke hurts people who dont smoke cigs"

What I was saying in the reply before that one is ... 2nd hand smoke cannot make me healthier. And I dont enjoy the smell of smoke. So its bad. Whether its worse than pollution or not is aside from the point. Both are obviously bad.

From there ... I added on: 1) That source will be hard to come by for various scientific testing reasons. 2) That source shouldn't be necessary for you to agree with the following point: if you were to weigh the pros and cons of cigs and of pollution. I bet you will find more cons to cigs than you would pollution.

Why? Pollution to me is a necessary evil in order to live the lifestyle we enjoy today. It is a byproduct of things we all enjoy. Cigs, i dont think they are necessary at all. They give the users health problems, and only the users enjoy them. The 2nd hand smoke, assuming it reaches my lungs, may do the same to me. Even if not, it doesn't smell good.

Therefore, if the OP way up there were to work on something that helps reduce their taxes .. they should work on getting cigs banned. More people would agree with you that it is worthwhile. To stop pollution, you will have to make some major changes to our industry as it functions today... maybe changes that will set back the quality of life we enjoy today. Probably not as many people are going to be behind you on that.

As far as banning cigs or banning public smoking .. thats a whole nother can of worms that I don't care if it happens or it doesnt. Well, I do have feelings about it but I think that is aside the points made above so i reserve comment until we get to that reddit comment thread :)

Does that clear anything up? I hope it does, I know it might not. I think we debated ourselves down a path that is completely different from the points made above :)

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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Are you reimbursed ?

[–]kindernacht 0 points1 point ago

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dammit, and they never even made it to being sold anywhere around me that i could find...and banned already. such a shame :(

[–]RyattEarp 3 points4 points ago

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You weren't missing out on anything. Brush your teeth and eat an orange for an idea of the flavor. Eat some xanax, snort some coke and chug a bunch of whiskey for a similar effect.

[–]kindernacht 2 points3 points ago

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lol, if i could afford the xanax, coke AND the whiskey...i wouldn't be so curious about it.

on a side not though, that is a great idea. this is my new savings goal.

[–]RyattEarp 2 points3 points ago

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everyone reacts differently i suppose, but they just make me blackout and rage. i think it's retarded to ban them but they really are pretty stupid in my opinion. like i said, you ain't missing out on anything.

[–]phoenix3d 0 points1 point ago

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COLGATE CAVITY PATROL?!

[–]alok0 0 points1 point ago

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So uh,... Jagerbombs anyone?

[–]skwishems 0 points1 point ago

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Did the "culprit" wear a large overcoat and sway awkwardly?

Did they have a large moustache and glasses?

The ol' three friends on each others shoulders trick,

Most flawless trick known to man

[–]Teufel27 0 points1 point ago

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Im sick of hearing about how unconstitutional "this and that" are. I understand that things such as the TSA are WAY more severe on the scale but WTF, how can they ban a fucking drink!? Is it just me that finds this totally unconstitutional as well and why the fuck is nobody doing anything about it? I dont give a fuck if the government is shitting on our rights of a search and seizure or if theyre trying to tell us that we cannot consume a perfectly legal drink...for gods sake, it's still shitting on the same scroll of papers that we get so butt hurt about on any other topic. seriously, wtf redditors...raise some hell.

[–]Badjo 1 point2 points ago

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You're a fucking idiot. This wasn't the FDA. They don't seize items which aren't prohibited... yet.

Idiot.

[–]suspicious666[S] 3 points4 points ago

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The FDA can confiscate them, just not yet. I edited my post, you whiny little bitch. Deal with it.

[–]Badjo -2 points-1 points ago

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Edit, because you were wrong. LOLOLOL GG OWNED NOOB

[–]slyf 0 points1 point ago

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Uhmm.just make your own?

[–]suspicious666[S] 0 points1 point ago

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I saw the video, and the homemade stuff looked like it was preferred over the actual Four Loko.

[–]Diggnan -5 points-4 points ago

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Isn't living in a nanny state fun!?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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I don't know is it ?!

[–]trackerbishop -5 points-4 points ago

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FDA = controlling what you eat, diluting the "organic" label so companies don't really have to follow all the guidelines one would expect, and letting big companies like glaxosmithkline only submit studies which backup their claims so they can get their drugs approved. Oh, they also banned tryptophan using a false flag situation, and coincidentally shortly thereafter all the ssri's came out.

[–]danbfree 3 points4 points ago

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Funny how people would rather just call you nuts and downvote you than research things and see you really are on to something.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]getinthevan 3 points4 points ago

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it has been proven tinfoil hats have the opposite effect of the mainstream belief

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points ago

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not only as snug but as smug as well

[–]brockkcorb -4 points-3 points ago

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Federal Douche Administration? sounds about right...