Submission Number: 00174 

Received: 10/28/2011
Commenter: Erica Leary
Organization: 
State: 
Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: Proposed Consent Agreement In the Matter of Phusion Projects, LLC; Jaisen Freeman; Christopher Hunter; and Jeffrey Wright; FTC File No. 112 3084
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
Just last week, I became aware that leaders from 18 federal agencies came together to develop a National Prevention Strategy for the country, released in June 2011. Chairman Jon Leibowitz, FTC, is listed as a member of the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council which developed this national strategy. One of many 'priorities' is 'preventing drug abuse and excessive alcohol use' (pg. 32).
There is absolutely no evidence of prevention, health promotion, or public health being considered in this proposed consent agreement with Phusion Projects, LLC, nor any understanding that it is products such as Four Loko that are designed entirely to PROMOTE excessive alcohol use. When you put a sweetened drink that's 12% alcohol by volume in a 23.5 oz. can and call it Four Loko (which is then often sold in convenience stores for 2 for $5 or 2 for $4) you've essentially created a product that defines and enables binge drinking. No reasonable person can think otherwise. To believe that putting a label stating the standard drink equivalent, and adding a cap, will in any way prevent or deter binge drinking is laughable.
This proposed agreement is nothing more than capitulating to corporate pressure and greed. It is a 'license to kill' for alcohol beverage makers, and our communities continue to suffer. Our federal agencies can continue to form committees, write reports, and fund research, but until they are willing to take ACTION that will make a DIFFERENCE, it's all for naught.