On Wednesday, March 11, 2015, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau approved a new product called Palcohol.
Palcholol comes in a dry powder form that, when mixed with water, becomes liquid alcohol. In addition to oral consumption, there is the additional potential to snort the powder. The product’s composition makes it easier to sneak alcohol into public events or to spike drinks, making it highly susceptible to misuse and abuse, not only by people of legal drinking age, but by minors as well.
According to the makers of Palcohol, one package equals one shot of traditional alcohol and will be available in such flavors as Vodka, Rum, Cosmopolitan, Powderita (like margarita) and Lemon Drop.
Palcohol’s web site, which has since been scrubbed, once advertised: “Just add water, mix with any soft drink, in any concentration. Adding Palcohol to food is so much fun. Sprinkle Palcohol on any dish to give it an extra kick.”
Time Magazine referred to the powdered alcohol as a “public health nightmare.” Concerns with powdered alcohol’s safety have already led to its ban in several states, with other states considering legislative action.
The good news is that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board unanimously voted on February 11, 2015 to disallow the sale of Palcohol throughout its Wine and Spirits stores.
Senator Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia) has proposed to ban the sale of the liquor equivalent of Palcohol in Pennsylvania.
Senator Kitchen stated, “Palcohol is essentially microbeads of liquid alcohol encased in sugar caplets, similar to the way they make flavor crystals for chewing gum. When the Palcohol hits a glass of water the sugar dissolves, and the alcohol is released into the drink.”
The sale or consumption of Palcohol would be illegal in the Commonwealth under Senator Kitchen’s Bill 588 introduced on March 10, 2015.
Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-Philadelphia) introduced HB 847 which will prohibit the possession, use, and sale of powdered alcohol. The proposed legislation was introduced this week of March 23rd, and will be refereed to the Liquor Committee.
However, its important to remain vigilant. Palcohol enjoys the support of Companies that want to cut down on the transportation costs of liquid alcohol.