The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau announced Wednesday the approval of Palcohol, a powdered alcohol substance.
The dry substance, similar to Kool-Aid powder, contains dehydrated alcohol and is intended to be mixed with non-alcoholic drinks. Four varieties of have been approved, including cosmopolitan, “Powderita”, straight rum and vodka.
Palcohol has come under harsh criticism since its introduction, with several states — including Virginia — banning it due to safety concerns. Commonwealth of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a leading proponent of the ban, said he is particularly concerned about potential abuse of the powdered substance by young populations. He praised the bipartisan decision to ban the substance.
“It's great to see Democrats and Republicans come together to help keep Virginians safe and healthy-particularly teenagers and other young people," Herring said, according to a press release. “The risk of abuse and misuse is just so high with this product."
State Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington) was a leading supporter of the legislation, which passed in February and specifically bans Palcohol’s sale, importation and possession in the state. He said he was disappointed by the Federal Government’s failure to take similar action.
“This legislation is a commonsense public safety measure designed to safeguard Virginians, especially our young people, against the growing dangers of powdered and crystalline alcohol,” Lopez said. “While I am disappointed that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau would approve this dangerous substance with such a high potential for abuse, I am proud that we were able to take action this session to protect our young people and ban powdered alcohol in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Dr. Christopher Holstege, Chief of the University’s Division of Medical Toxicology, commented on the possible form of abuse involving snorting the powder to accelerate intoxication.
“It’s a product that has ethanol in a cyclodextrin ring,” Holstege said in an email. “It’s meant to be ingested and we highly doubt snorting would be of benefit.”
Other concerns include the possibility that the powder could be brought into events without detection, used to illicitly spike drinks or discreetly cooked into food.
Unlike Kool-Aid powder, Holstege said a package Palcohol takes approximately a minute to fully dissolve, and alcohol content is based on the quantity of powder used as opposed to the volume of the resulting liquid. Servings are individually packaged in pouches the size of postcards and are equivalent to one shot of alcohol.
According to Palcohol’s website, the powder was created by outdoorsman Mark Phillips, who envisioned the powdered alcohol serving as a lightweight substitute to carrying heavy wine and liquor bottles on hiking, biking, camping and kayaking trips.
Palcohol is expected to hit shelves this coming summer, once the company is able to arrange for the product's manufacture and distribution. It will be sold only at stores where liquid liquor is legally sold.
Palcohol did not return requests for comment.
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