Yonkers Police Investigate Illegal Four Loko Sales
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- After the recent firestorm surrounding the alcoholic energy drink some call "blackout in a can," there has been increased scrutiny on the sale of Four Loko to teenagers.
CBS 2 reporter Tony Aiello rode along with Yonkers police and a 17-year-old undercover agent Friday night as they investigated whether the beverage was being sold without proper identification checks.
"A lot of kids around my age are obsessed with the Four Loko drink," the teen working the Yonkers Police Youth Division told Aiello.
While police came up empty on the first two stops of the operation, the undercover agent was able to get store clerks at the next two locations to sell him the drink, clearly marked with a "We ID" label.
Both of those store workers were teens -- one 16 years old and the other 17 years old. They are both expected to face charges and the establishments will face fines from the state liquor authority.
"That's pretty scary," James Lloyd of the Yonkers Police Department said. "Teens selling this to teens, that's not good."
Alcohol is a big concern in Yonkers, where police said it is responsible for some of the trouble that snares its young people.
"It can contribute to violence. It can contribute to sexual attacks, other anti-social behavior, which, again, it does fuel some of our problems here in Yonkers," Yonkers Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett said.
"My goal is to stop teens around my age from buying these Four Loko drinks. They're not healthy for you -- not healthy for you at all," the undercover teen agent said.
Under a deal with the state liquor authority, Friday is the day the company that makes the drink stopped shipping it to New York.
Retailers, however, can continue to sell what they have in stock and Yonkers police said they thought illegal sales would continue to require their attention.
IN OTHER NEWS...
QUEENS MAN WINS LOTTERY...FOR LIFE!
DANCE TROUPE CAUSES TERROR SCARE INSIDE LINCOLN TUNNEL...
$5,000 REWARD OFFERED IN N.Y. PURSE SNATCHING CASES...
