A form of powdered alcohol under the brand name Palcohol was approved on March 10, 2015 by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Concerns over its potential for abuse and fears of increased discrete drinking have already arisen.
What is powdered alcohol?
It’s exactly what it sounds like, alcohol in a powder form. When mixed with 6 ounces of water, Palcohol ends up having a similar alcohol content as a typical mixed drink you order at a bar.
Palcohol’s website asserts that the development of Palcohol was partially prompted by the desire to have alcohol on hiking or camping trips without having to carry heavy bottles over the course of the trip.
Palcohol is expected to be commercially available in the summer of 2015 and will initially release four flavors: cosmopolitan, vodka, rum, & margarita.
Concern about the Legalization of Palcohol
Detractors of Palcohol have raised a number of objections to the powder’s legalization. Primary fears have included:
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Possible abuse by minors
The potential for abuse of powdered alcohol by minors is the leading concern raised by detractors of Palcohol. The belief is that it would appeal to minors because it’s easy to conceal, it’s difficult to detect when it’s being consumed, it can be snorted, and the flavors may have an added appeal for youths.Further, there are concerns that due to its novelty, Palcohol may not be treated the same as liquid alcohol – and may not be stored as safely as bottles of alcohol are. In other words, the fear is that Palcohol will be left out in a place where young children can reach, and thus consume it.
- Ease of sneaking it into venues that ban alcohol
Although Palcohol is stored in a fairly large package of about 4×6 inches, it would still be much easier to sneak in a packet of powder than it is to sneak in bottles of alcohol to schools, concert halls, and other venues that prohibit alcohol.
- Possibility of snorting it
It’s a powder and powders will be snorted. Another concern is that Palcohol may be mixed with other powders and snorted together – which could have health ramifications.
On a state level, concerns about Palcohol have also been made immediately clear. As of today, Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, South Carolina and Vermont have already placed a statewide ban on powdered alcohol, while Minnesota, Ohio, New York and Colorado currently are considering a ban. - Workplace Drinking
Another concern relating to Palcohol is the possibility of employees drinking discreetly while at work. Palcohol’s clear and odorless features make it difficult to detect. This is where possible alcohol testing can be used to test reasonable suspicion of alcohol abuse on the job.
Mobile Health offers Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) to detect alcohol in an employee’s breath. Also offered is a Blood Alcohol Test to check an employee’s blood for the presence of alcohol. Since Palcohol is still a form of alcohol, both tests will detect use confirming any signs of abuse.
