Rush is on to stock up on Four Loko before it disappears

Saturday, November 13, 2010
Last updated 4:36 p.m. PT

KIRKLAND -- A banned beverage, blamed for hospitalizing local students, has become a hot commodity.

Just days before it must be pulled from store shelves on Nov. 18, Four Loko is becoming a bit of a phenomenon -- from 20-somethings stocking up on the drink to the shirts, songs and Facebook pages dedicated to its memory.

"We've got four more days to go out and drink this piece of pop culture that we have left," said local graphic designer Stephen Lloyd, who went with a coworker in search of the drink at convenience stores around Kirkland Friday night.

Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink, is blamed for sickening nine students at an off-campus party near Central Washington University last month.

This week, state leaders announced a ban on the drink and others like it across Washington State, arguing that the fruit-flavored drinks in brightly colored cans are aimed at a young demographic.

Since the 120-day emergency ban was announced, a Facebook tribute page has popped up declaring this "Washington Loko Week," and people like University of Washington junior Jordan En'Wezoh have rushed out to stock up on the spirits. "Yes, it is true," En'Wezoh said. "I am stocking up."

Lloyd, who works at Kirkland-based ShirtsforGreeks.com, said a few coworkers came up with the idea to go out and get one of each flavor, "for pop culture purposes."

An intern at the company also came up with the idea to print shirts in tribute to soon-to-be-vintage drink. The shirts were on backorder within 36 hours of them being put up for sale online.

Lloyd, and others, say they recognize that some of the CWU students were hospitalized after drinking Four Loko, but say the shirts are meant to be fun.

"Absolutely it's meant to be humorous," said ShirtsforGreeks.com founder Brandon Metcalf. "It's a play on words and on the brand. It's part of a pop culture movement, so, why not?"

Meantime, in Portland, stores say they're already seeing a rush of customers trying to buy the beverage.

"I've sold more today in five hours than I would on a Friday night," said North Portland store owner Toby Enfield.

The statewide emergency ban starts on Wednesday, November 17th, and will last 120 days. The state attorney general's office said it expects federal action on the beverages before the end of that period.

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