No more Four Loko in New York State

Governor David Paterson and the State Liquor Authority announced Sunday that the maker of the caffeinated alcoholic drink Four Loko has agreed to stop shipments to New York state.

Senator Chuck Schumer, who called for the action, said he was pushing for a complete ban but called the move “a giant step forward in keeping our kids safe from these dangerous brews.”

According to the agreement, Phusion Products, which produces Four Loko, must stop shipping the drink to New York State by Friday, November 19.

Governor Paterson also announced today that the State’s biggest beer distributors have voluntarily agreed to stop selling malt beverages that contain caffeine and other stimulants. Under the voluntary agreement reached late Saturday, beer distributors will stop placing orders for these alcoholic energy drinks (AEDs) immediately, and will be given until December 10, 2010 to clear their inventory of the products, with retailers given an additional time to sell off existing stock.

Four Loko and drinks like it, which can have up to four times as much alcohol as four beers, have been banned in Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma.

The fruity drink has been linked to several deaths, and has already been banned in Michegan, Washington, Oklahoma and Utah. Last month, nine college students in Washington State were hospitalized after a drinking binge that included alcoholic energy drinks.