Critics call Blast, a new malt beverage, "binge in a can". Pabst Brewing Company manufacturers Blast, a 23.5 ounce can which contains 12 percent alcohol.
"I'm on the set right now of the photo shoot for the Colt 45 Blast," rapper Snoop Dogg said in a YouTube video promoting the adult beverage.
Blast is sold across the country. Gino's Drive-Thru in Youngstown said the drink is popular. The cans are colorful and come in a variety of fruity flavors.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the drink's marketing is designed to entice young drinkers.
"This is just instant intoxication," DeWine said. "One can for the average person would make them legally drunk in the state of Ohio."
Officials said the amount of alcohol in one can is like drinking 5 cans beers.
"In one drink, that's not really healthy for anyone to drink," said Michael Fraczek, a local college student.
"They're aiming it toward younger kids because they're the ones partying," said Ida-Mari Anderson, another local college student.
Blast isn't the first drink to spark debate. Phusion Projects recently re-formulated its caffeinated malt beverage Four Loko under pressure from states and the Food and Drug Administration. In the end, the company removed the caffeine from Four Loko, but the drink is still 12 percent alcohol.
"(It) wasn't a good experience," said Vince Malz, a local college student. "I was really drunk." That's how Malz described his experience with Four Loko. He hasn't tried Blast.
On April 21, DeWine and other attorneys general wrote Pabst Brewing Company calling for Blast to undergo a makeover.
"We've called on them to reformulate this," DeWine said. "There's no reason for any drink to have that much alcohol."
Malz said it's the right move, but he has a warning.
"It doesn't matter how controlled it is, people are still going to drink massive amounts of it because that's what people do to get drunk," Malz said.
Other students argue companies share a bigger stake in the game of responsibility.
"From a business standpoint, I think what (Pabst Brewing Company) is doing is ethically wrong."
The company said it supports and promotes the responsible use of its product by customers who are of the legal drinking age.
