CONWAY, SC -- South Carolina legislation banning alcoholic energy drinks moved to the House today, just as the new formula for Four Loko hits the shelves.

A panel voted to send a law that would ban the distribution of all alcoholic energy drinks to the House Judiciary Committee.

Two months ago, the Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to the makers of Four Loko to remove all caffeine from their drinks by December 13.

Even though the maker removed the caffeine from its product, South Carolina lawmakers want to make sure the next energy drink with alcohol is never produced again.

Even without the caffeine, college students still buy the drink in bulk.

"I remember I got my friend 21 of the old Four Lokos for her 21st birthday." says Coastal Carolina student Joann Szaley. "But we just had the new stuff last night."

Megan Lyford admits she thinks the drink doesn't pack the same punch as it used to, but it just made her drink more. "I was just telling my friends that it used to take about one and a half and I was done. But this time, I had to drink two full cans." Lyford says.

The product is still cheap, about $2.50 per can. Each can is 12 percent alcohol.

Myles Berger drank Four Loko before the caffeine was taken out, but says new Loko won't be much safer. "It still gets you really drunk, really fast. People will still drink it."

There is no denying that once the first 'Four Loko' was banned, demand for the potent drink skyrocketed.

Coastal Student Danielle Zito says banning a drink only makes it more popular for students. "My friend had to bring some back from New York when they banned it here," she says. "People went crazy for it."

Many say the old Loko was the same as mixing a liquor drink with an energy drink, like you can get in a bar. "If you were to drink two 32 ounce cans of red bull and vodka, you'd feel the same way Four Loko makes you feel," Zito says.

Coastal student Alex Honoker says she hasn't had the new Four Loko. But people will still try to beat the system. "People want to stay up as late as possible when they drink and they'll find a way to not fall asleep if they want to," says Honoker.

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Earlier Associated Press story:

A bill banning the production and sale of alcohol-laced energy drinks in South Carolina has advanced in the House.

A panel voted unanimously Thursday to send the bill to the House Judiciary Committee. The proposal would bar the distribution of beverages such as Four Loko and Joose that generally are 9 percent or 12 percent alcohol-by-volume and up to 32 ounces each.

Offenders could be fined between $100 and $500 and imprisoned between 30 days and six months. They also would lose their license to sell alcohol for two years.

Federal authorities issued warning letters in November to manufacturers of Four Loko and similar beverages. They say the combination of caffeine and alcohol is dangerous and causes users to become "wide-awake drunk."