Four Facts
Chicago-based Phusion Projects, LLC makes Four Maxed and Four Loko, flavored alcoholic beverages that should only be consumed by adults 21 and older.
Four Maxed:
- Four Maxed is sold in 16-ounce cans and has 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
- It was introduced to the market in January of 2008 and it comes in two flavors: Gold (citrus) and Grape.
Four Loko:
- Four Loko is sold in 23.5-ounce cans with either 6 or 12 percent ABV, depending on state regulations.
- It was introduced to the market in August of 2008 and today comes in eight flavors: Orange, Fruit Punch, Lemonade, Cranberry Lemonade, Uva (grape), Watermelon, Blue Raspberry and Lemon Lime.
Alcohol Equivalents:
- Four Loko has roughly the same alcohol content as wine and some craft beers, and far less alcohol by volume than hard liquor.
Flavored Alcoholic Beverages:
- Flavored alcoholic beverages are nothing new; today bubble gum, raspberry and blueberry vodkas are all on the market – all with several times the alcohol content of Four Loko or Four Maxed.
- Other, widely-accepted beverages, such as Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Twisted Tea and Smirnoff Ice, have similar flavors.
Our Cans:
- Our cans feature seven different warnings about the alcohol content and the need for an ID for purchase.
- Our ABV warnings are in a font as large as the federal government will allow.
- Four Loko’s can colors are no brighter or more appealing than the blue, red, and green labels of established beer brands like Budweiser and Heineken.
A Commitment to Responsible Drinking:
- We are proud of the work we do with our stores and distributors to ensure our products are used properly and only by adults of legal drinking age.
- We share materials and information with them and we communicate regularly with them about the importance of stocking our products in the appropriate areas of the stores and asking for IDs at the point of purchase.
- A full 100 percent of our distributors receive and share our responsible drinking materials, and we feature 17 of these materials on our website.
About Us:
- Phusion Projects, LLC, was founded by 3 college friends who met at The Ohio State University.
- With roughly $150,000 in start-up capital – acquired through small business loans, family loans and maxed out personal finances, the friends built the company into the national brand it is today.
- Phusion’s products are sold in 47 states, supporting hundreds of retail and distribution jobs and generating millions in tax revenue for local and state and governments.
- Today, the company employs 90 people, for whom health benefits are 100% employer-paid.
- Last year the company donated approximately $300,000 to charitable organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, the American Cancer Society and the East LA Boys and Girls Club, among others.
