BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) -- Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden on Tuesday announced a multi-state agreement with a beverage seller that allegedly violated Idaho's Consumer Protection Act.
Phusion Products LLC promoted and sold a flavored, caffeinated malt drink known as Four Loko.
Phusion allegedly promoted the beverage to minors without disclosing the effects and consequences of drinking alcoholic drinks mixed with caffeine.
"The stimulants in Four Loko mask the effect of the alcohol in the drink," Wasden said. "As a result, the consumer feels alert and, although impaired by the alcohol, does not perceive that he or she is impaired. Obviously, this creates a highly dangerous situation."
Idaho joined the city of San Francisco and 19 other states in the $400,000 settlement. Idaho will receive $14,072 under the agreement.
Also under the terms of the agreement, Phusion will no longer manufacture caffeinated alcoholic beverages. In addition, Phusion agreed not to promote alcoholic products to underage individuals, hire actors under the age of 25 or who appear to be under the age of 21 to promote alcoholic products, promote flavored malt drinks on school or college property and promote binge drinking, drinking while driving or consuming alcoholic beverages by means of rapid ingestion.
"Young people will be safer as a result of today's settlement," Wasden said. "I am pleased the company and its owners have agreed to address the concerns expressed."
Wasden and other attorneys general previously reached similar agreements with MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch to stop the beverage sellers from producing alcohol energy drinks.