Health experts warn that the risk of abuse is high

Apr 25, 2014 20:23 GMT  ·  By

For decades, or likely centuries, busy boozers have dreamed of a more convenient way of carrying their alcohol dose with them in a lightweight, powder form on distant adventures supported by back, boat or bike.

Those interested in the potential of carrying around alcohol in packages as discreet as a sachet of sugar now have reasons to be excited about a new product called Palcohol – as long as it manages to receive approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in the United States.

Public Controversy

Palcohol, which is basically freeze-dried alcohol in powder form, could certainly be a convenient way to take a drink on the go, as all you need is a glass of water to transform it into a shot or a cocktail, but the idea of powdered hooch seems to be quite problematic for both governments and the public.

The new product has already become the subject of some controversy after the company that created it suggested people could sneak it into places where they are not supposed to drink, like sporting events or movie theaters.

Moreover, there were also polemic debates over how the substance can be consumed, as an initial version of the company’s website stated it could be snorted to “get drunk almost instantly.” Those cached versions of the Palcohol site are no longer available, but enough people got to see them before being removed.

Now, the site discourages people from snorting the powder, and advises them to consume it responsibly. “Palcohol should be used in a responsible and legal manner,” it says. “As Palcohol is a new product, we have yet to understand its potential of being added to food. As always, please use it responsibly.”

Health Risks

Another problem that could arise if this product hits the market is related to the health risks it could pose. Some health experts have already expressed their concerns that Palcohol could be easily misused or abused by consumers, with potentially dangerous consequences.   They say that the risk of abuse is high, as a shot of booze in a one-ounce (28 gr) package could be very tempting to many alcohol users. Just imagine, they wouldn’t have to go to bars or restaurants to have a drink or two, as they could carry even more instant drinks in their own pockets.   It's no secret that alcohol consumption in general can cause major health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and more, and the convenience of the small packets could encourage over-consumption and could lead to intoxication, drunken driving, diseases and other problems.   Parents, on the other hand, are also concerned that the packets will make it easier for minors to get, hide, and use alcohol, which could also lead to abuse and health risks.

Legal Risks

Although Palcohol manages to make it through the final regulatory hurdles in the United States, it is questionable whether the new product will survive the laws of each American state that govern alcohol regulation.   Some alcohol policy researchers say that the company could also face a lot of legal risks, especially because the alcoholic powder would appeal to a younger crowd.

They mention that warning labels are not enough when it comes to lawsuits, citing other alcoholic energy drinks whose makers are still being sued years after their products were removed from the market.   Many Still Wonder How It’s Made

Another question that has remained unanswered so far in relation to Palcohol is: “What’s in it?” Given that patents are pending on the product, details about the processes behind it are very scarce.

General Foods Corporation, for instance, the company that first attempted to make powdered alcohol in the 1970s, used carbohydrate transformed into a white powder through a process called hydrolysis to create its product. It then combined that white dust with pure liquid alcohol, which essentially stuck to it capturing the essence of the booze.

But Palcohol makers, a company called Lipsmark LLC, do not give details about how their product is made and what it contains. Their websites only mentions that “It varies per version but basically, alcohol [...] and in the cocktail versions, natural flavorings and Sucralose as a sweetener. The ingredients of each version are listed on the front of the package. Palcohol is gluten free.”

The amount of alcohol included in the mix is not clearly specified, but the company vaguely mentions that a package has 10-12% alcohol by volume, adding that mixing five ounces (150 ml) of liquid with a packet of Palcohol would be “equal to a standard mixed drink.”