Powdered Alcohol US Ban Update: New York Joins States Acting Up Against 'Palcohol'

Even though Palcohol has been approved by two government agencies and tested for safety, many U.S. states still believe that the powdered form of alcohol is still a safety hazard. According to MSN, approximately 21 states have banned Palcohol, New York being the latest state to pass legislation against powdered alcohol.

This Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) approved legislation banning the sale of Palcohol in New York stores and markets, reports The Washington Post. Cuomo believes that Palcohol can be very dangerous. 

The New York Governor commented that powdered alcohol could lead to a number of risky situations, such as high levels of intoxications if prepared improperly or consumed purely in powder form. 

"This dangerous product is a public health disaster waiting to happen. I am proud to sign this legislation that will keep powdered alcohol off the shelves and out of wrong hands." 

Meanwhile, parents and others in the general public fear that Palcohol will increase the rate of underage drinking and binge drinking. ABC adds that some consumers believe that people will actually snort the powdered alcohol product for a more powerful effect. 

However, Mark Philipps, the creator of Palcohol, has tried to reassure consumers that Palcohol is not a dangerous product and is not so different from liquid alcohol. According to Philipps, Palcohol packs are measured to serve one shot of alcohol and are not a more concentrated form of alcohol. 

In addition, Lipsmark, the company producing the alcohol powder, argues that snorting Palcohol is nearly impossible as it burns as much as regular alcohol, plus it would take at least an hour to snort a whole shot of vodka. 

Lipsmark has acknowledged, however, that if people get creative, there is a way to sneak the packets into places that prohibit alcohol, like school or concert halls. But the comapny argues that the 4-by-6 inch packets are larger than the smallest liquid bottles and that the same issue exists with liquid alcohol.

In fact, some teenagers have been known to get creative with liquid alcohol. For instance, one well-known trick to sneak alcohol into school is to pour clear liquid alcohol into a colored drink.  

Even with the spreading apprehension against powdered alcohol, the Treasury of Department's of Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has still approved Palcohol labels. 

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Aministration, which would have been the only agency that could prohibit the product all over the Unites States, said that it could not find a basis for banning Palcohol sales in the open market. 

"...the use of ingredients in the proposed products was in compliance with FDA's regulations. The agency notes that the ingredients used in the products are typical of ingredients found in many process foods," states the government agency. 

For more information about Palcohol, see the video below.