This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
Four Loko's Hard Seltzer: A Healthier Option? ¶
Published on August 17, 2019, a hard seltzer from Four Loko, called Four Loko Sour, made headlines with its 14% alcohol by volume (ABV), equivalent to nearly three macrobrews and a glass of wine.
From a dietitian's perspective, it's a hard sell to consider hard seltzer a healthier option. While it may be easier to drink than a glass of wine or beer, the calories and booze still go down quickly.
Alcohol, regardless of what it's paired with, dehydrates the body. This myth-busting fact is often overlooked by hard seltzer companies that claim their products keep you better hydrated than beer or wine.
Speaking of calories, Four Loko's hard seltzer likely has at least 400 calories per 12-ounce can, making it a significant contributor to a summer party's high-calorie food intake.
According to Brierley Horton, a dietitian in Birmingham, AL, 'The average guy needs around 2000 calories daily, give or take, depending on their activity. When one drink itself makes up nearly 1/5 of that—along with having about 3 times the alcohol of most traditional beers—I’d suggest you rethink your drink.'
The bottom line: while there's certainly more to life than calories, when you couple that with the dangerously high levels of alcohol in a drink that already has a built-in health halo, it's best to stick to better options.
