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We covered the story about powdered alcohol when it was first announced, but it ran into problems. It was re-announced in mid March. Rachel Abrams reports at the NYT that six states have passed legislation to ban Palcohol, a freeze-dried, powdered alcohol developed by Mark Phillips who he says was inspired by a love of hiking but a distaste for carrying bottles of adult beverages uphill. "When I hike, kayak, backpack or whatever, I like to have a drink when I reach my destination. And carrying liquid alcohol and mixers to make a margarita for instance was totally impractical," says Phillips, who hopes to have Palcohol on store shelves by the summer. One packet of Palcohol equals one shot with each packet weighing 1 ounce and turning into liquid when mixed with 6 ounces of water. Phillips has vigorously defended his product, called Palcohol, saying it is no more dangerous than the liquid version sold in liquor stores and plans to release five flavors: vodka, rum, cosmopolitan, powderita (which is like a margarita) and lemon drop.
Critics are concerned people may try to snort the powder or mix it with alcohol to make it even stronger or spike a drink. "It's very easy to put a couple packets into a glass and have super-concentrated alcohol," says Frank Lovecchio. Amy George, a spokeswoman for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said MADD did not typically take a stand on the dangers of specific alcohol products, but MADD is concerned about the colorful or playful packaging of such products that can sometimes appeal to children. Phillips dismisses concerns saying that they don't make sense if you think it through. "People unfortunately use alcohol irresponsibly. But I don't see any movement to ban liquid alcohol. You don't ban something because a few irresponsible people use it improperly," says Phillips. "They can snort black pepper. Do you ban black pepper?"
(Score: 2) by Subsentient on Sunday April 05 2015, @10:37AM
And you know, the FDA and whatnot, it's their JOB to regulate this kind of thing. Do you want the freedom to be intentionally sold E. coli infected food?
How about the freedom to be sold expired, dangerous medication?
If you care that much, then you must agree that it must be legal for any private citizen to own a nuclear weapon, because just because it's dangerous doesn't mean it shouldn't be available to everyone! Right?
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anal Pumpernickel on Sunday April 05 2015, @10:47AM
A weapon of mass destruction is definitely similar to something you can consume.
And you know, the FDA and whatnot, it's their JOB to regulate this kind of thing.
It's not the FDA's job to ban something simply because it could be abused, and any 'abuse' here wouldn't lead to mass destruction, so no more mentioning nuclear bombs. But you seem like you might be a big fan of the war on drugs, so carry on.
(Score: 2, Disagree) by Subsentient on Sunday April 05 2015, @11:22AM
Actually, the mass incarceration and minimum sentences is an abomination. I just see kids spiking their orange juice with 5 of these at school lunch and sneaking them in the bottom of their shoe.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anal Pumpernickel on Sunday April 05 2015, @11:43AM
That's their problem, then. No need to ban it for everyone. I'm tired of this attitude, and if you really oppose the drug war, then you should be tired of it too.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Sunday April 05 2015, @11:54AM
Bottom of their shoe? Are these schools or prisons? They could just as easily keep it in a backpack, lunchbox, or premixed into a bottled drink. Or just use vodka instead. Kids get caught with mary jane at school because it is easy to detect. Alcohol, not so much.
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(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Sunday April 05 2015, @01:07PM
What about kids sampling the entire home drug cabinet AND drink cabinet? Not worried about that? It certainly happens a lot more often than kids overdosing on powdered alcohol.
Protip: it's hard to actually kill yourself with alcohol, unless you mix in other drugs. You end up either drunk or vomiting. Neither is terribly harmful for a kid, especially if he is under supervision such as during school hours.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 05 2015, @01:10PM
Also, this powdered alcohol garbage is actually pretty weak even compared to normal alcohol.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 06 2015, @07:49AM
Why would other people's failures as parents be my concern?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by TLA on Sunday April 05 2015, @12:33PM
that's the same FDA that, at the behest of Rumsfeld, approved aspartame for human consumption without peer-reviewed human interaction studies having been carried out and in the face of actual evidence of the harmful effects of the chemical, right?
That's ok then, I thought it would be an organisation that we couldn't trust to act in all our interests rather than worshipping the Mighty Greenback... oh, how wrong was I?
Excuse me, I think I need to reboot my horse. - NCommander
(Score: 2) by nightsky30 on Sunday April 05 2015, @11:29PM
Exactly, they already screwed up. I avoid anything with artificial sweeteners. When it breaks down into formaldehyde and formic acid, no thanks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 06 2015, @07:52AM
The government was bought the instant that enough money was concentrated into the hands of individuals to do just that. Thanks capitalism!
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Sunday April 05 2015, @08:27PM
Do you want the freedom to be intentionally sold E. coli infected food?
Caveat Emptor, I always say! Isn't the truly free market a wonderful thing!