Rocky Brown did not win his battle against longtime state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland for the 159th District seat that covers the city of Chester and several surrounding towns.
But it turns out he was right about one thing.
Brown was ahead of his time in sounding the warning bell against the new rage among young people. That would be these alcohol-laced energy drinks such as 'Four Loko.'
Brown held a protest outside a Chester deli back in the summer to rally public sentiment against the sale of the popular drinks, which pack a powerful wallop by combining both alcohol and caffeine. There is growing concern about what happens when you put those opposite effects into young people.
Brown is convinced that the potent elixir was playing a role in the spate of shootings among young people that eventually led Chester officials to declare a state of emergency.
Brown told me during a visit to the office that kids are combining the drinks with still more drugs and often time don’t even remember what they did while under the influence.
Now the issue is getting statewide attention.
The state Liquor Control Board is now asking retailers and wholesalers to stop selling the drinks. The call comes after the most recent incident involving the drinks out in Lancaster County, where a group of several dozen young people were sickened.
Score one for Rocky Brown.
But it turns out he was right about one thing.
Brown was ahead of his time in sounding the warning bell against the new rage among young people. That would be these alcohol-laced energy drinks such as 'Four Loko.'
Brown held a protest outside a Chester deli back in the summer to rally public sentiment against the sale of the popular drinks, which pack a powerful wallop by combining both alcohol and caffeine. There is growing concern about what happens when you put those opposite effects into young people.
Brown is convinced that the potent elixir was playing a role in the spate of shootings among young people that eventually led Chester officials to declare a state of emergency.
Brown told me during a visit to the office that kids are combining the drinks with still more drugs and often time don’t even remember what they did while under the influence.
Now the issue is getting statewide attention.
The state Liquor Control Board is now asking retailers and wholesalers to stop selling the drinks. The call comes after the most recent incident involving the drinks out in Lancaster County, where a group of several dozen young people were sickened.
Score one for Rocky Brown.
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