“Palcohol” Maker Says His Product is No More Dangerous Than Liquid Alcohol

The maker of the powdered alcohol product “Palcohol” says it is no more dangerous than liquid alcohol, The New York Times reports. Palcohol, recently approved for sale by a federal agency, has been banned in six states. A bill to ban powdered alcohol’s sale and manufacture nationwide has been introduced by Senator Charles Schumer of New York.

“I am in total disbelief that our federal government has approved such an obviously dangerous product, and so, Congress must take matters into its own hands and make powdered alcohol illegal,” Schumer said in a statement when he introduced the legislation. “Underage alcohol abuse is a growing epidemic with tragic consequences and powdered alcohol could exacerbate this.”

While Palcohol was approved for sale last month by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, it is still subject to regulation by the states, the article notes. The product could be on store shelves by this summer. It will be available in five versions: rum, vodka, Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop and a margarita version called Powderita. Each single-use packet is designed to be mixed with six ounces of liquid to make one drink. Each drink will contain 10 percent alcohol by volume, similar to a glass of wine.

Critics of powdered alcohol say it will appeal to children, and its powdered form will make it easier to hide.