US federal regulator approves powdered alcohol

A powdered alcohol intended for mixing into drinks has been approved by a US federal regulator.

The product, called Palcohol (powdered alcohol), had been approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau briefly last year before the bureau backtracked and said the label approvals had been given in error. Bureau spokesman Tom Hogue yesterday said the issues had been resolved.

According to Hogue, states could regulate alcohol sales and several states had moved to ban powdered alcohol, including lawmakers in Colorado who last month advanced legislation to temporarily halt its sale.

That bill had since then undergone changes to ensure the regulation of powdered alcohol as if it were liquid alcohol.

However concerns remain which include abuse by minors, snorting the powder, sneaking it into public events and spiking drinks.

Many parents are worried the product would be abused by teens and are calling on Maryland lawmakers to step in.

According to attorney Robert Lehrman, nothing even close to this had been on the market in the recent past in the US or ever, baltimore.cbslocal.com reported.

Users only need to add the powder to water. Powders are available to make vodka, rum, cosmos and lemon drop cocktails – up to 12 per cent alcohol by volume.

The makers have warned against snorting Palcohol, as one could get drunk almost instantly.

However, drug abuse expert Mike Gimbel has warned that when it came to protecting kids from alcohol, the product was a nightmare, according to the report.

Mark Phillips, creator of Palcohol counters that saying, the product would be sold wherever liquid alcohol is sold and the same rules would apply - buyers must be 21 years or older to buy it.

Gimbel called on Maryland lawmakers to address the powder which he labeled a recipe for abuse by underage drinkers.

He said the legislature needed to act immediately to ban the product from being sold in the state of Maryland.

Several states had already moved to ban powdered alcohol, including Colorado, but the  company hoped to have the product for sale this summer.

Phillips says, prohibition doesn't work. "By banning powdered alcohol, the state will create a black market which means the state loses control of the distribution. And then underage drinkers will have easier access to it." 

In addition, the state will spend precious resources trying to enforce the ban and it probably won't work" just as Prohibition in the US had failed in 1920s and 30s.

He adds, "Since the product isn't even on the market yet, there is not one shred of evidence that it will be used or abused any differently than liquid alcohol. Every concern we've heard is unfounded speculation and that is no basis to outlaw a product.

"The two federal agencies that have jurisdiction over alcohol, the FDA and the TTB, have reviewed Palcohol and tested it and found no problems with allowing it to go forward to be approved for sale."

So why are many states moving to ban powdered alcohol. Reponds Phillips, "Why? Because the liquor industry is against it and they want to squash competition and protect their market share. The liquor companies have lots of money to lobby for what they want and we are no match for their deep pockets. But should big money be allowed to make the laws?"