One can of these supersized alcopops contains an alcohol content of 5.5 standard alcoholic beverages. This means that drinking one can is binge alcohol consumption. Already two cans can lead to alcohol poisoning. The colorful, flavored alcopops are a Big Alcohol strategy to hook younger people to alcohol. The alcohol industry obviously ignores that the products put children and youth in danger and could even kill them.
Even worse: these products remain under-regulated and are widely available inexpensively at gas stations and convenience stores – all places where they are more readily accessible by underage youth.
According to a study led by George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services nearly a half (46.3 %) of all calls to U.S. poison control centers involving supersized alcopop consumption were made for consumers below the legal age for alcohol use.
Our latest data show a clear trend of supersized alcopop consumption among underage young people requiring poison center services,” said Dr. Matthew Rossheim, lead researcher, George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services, as per Science Daily.
In this way, supersized alcopops appear to pose a distinct threat to youth.”
Dr. Matthew Rossheim, lead researcher, George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services
The study examined data from the National Poison Data System repository of calls to U.S. poison control centers from 2010 through 2019. This included 1,719 calls for consumption of supersized alcopops. Key findings are as follows:
- Nearly one-half of calls involving supersized alcopop consumption (46.3 %) were made for consumers who were below the legal age for alcohol use.
- In all years, the proportion of calls for supersized alcopops that were for underage exposures greatly exceeded the proportion of calls that were for underage exposures for other types of alcohol.
- For those 0–11 years of age, 91 % of supersized alcopop exposures were unintentional; however, for each other age group, at least 84 % of exposures were intentional.
- Supersized alcopop exposures involved a co-ingested product in more than 80 % of cases among patients of legal age and less than 50 % of cases among patient under legal age.
Better regulation and policies are urgently needed,” said Dr. Matthew Rossheim, lead researcher, George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services, as per Science Daily.
Limiting their alcohol content and retail availability are immediate steps regulators must take in order to protect our youth.”
Dr. Matthew Rossheim, lead researcher, George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services
