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Tag: palcohol

  • Powdered Alcohol Has Been Approved in the US (For Real This Time)

    After having their product approved last summer and then having that approval recalled in a governmental oops moment, Palcohol is celebrating victory as powdered alcohol is now legal for sale in the US.

    The AP reports that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has given the controversial substance, which amounts to freeze-dried flavored alcohol in a pouch, the greenlight. Of course, whether or not it makes it to shelves in all states in left to be seen. From CBS News:

    On Wednesday, bureau spokesman Tom Hogue told The Associated Press the issues were resolved and that four varieties of Palcohol were approved. But Hogue noted that states can also regulate alcohol sales in their borders.

    The latest approval is a step forward for a small company whose product plans have already sparked controversy.

    Several states have already moved to ban powdered alcohol, including lawmakers in Colorado who last month advanced legislation to temporarily halt its sale. Concerns have included abuse by minors and whether Palcohol’s light weight would make it easy to sneak alcohol into public events.

    Palcohol, the company looking to make powdered alcohol the next big thing, say they hope to have it available by this summer.

    “Many states are moving to ban powdered alcohol. Why? Because the liquor industry is against it and they want to squash competition and protect their market share. The liquor companies have lots of money to lobby for what they want and we are no match for their deep pockets. But should big money be allowed to make the laws?” says Palcohol on its site.

    “If you want to try Palcohol, you need to contact your legislators to tell them you don’t need the government to be our nanny. We’re big boys and girls and can decide for ourselves if we want to use alcohol….because that’s all Palcohol is….liquid alcohol in powder form.”

    Of course, opponents of powdered alcohol cite examples of how it could be abused – snorted, and overconsumed, mostly.

    To this, Palcohol says that’s just impractical.

    “Listen, people can snort black pepper….so do we ban it? No, just because a few goofballs use a product irresponsibly doesn’t mean you ban it. But even the goofballs won’t snort Palcohol due to the pain the alcohol would cause. It really burns. Imagine sniffing liquid vodka. Second, it’s impractical. It takes approximately 60 minutes to snort the equivalent of one shot of vodka. Why would anyone do that when they can do a shot of liquid vodka in two seconds?”

    Adding six ounces of water to one packet of the powdered alcohol will make what equates to one standard mixed drink. It currently comes in vodka, rum, cosmo, margarita, and lemon drop.

    Last April, the product was legalized – for a second. A couple of days after, the TTB said it was done in error. It’s been under review since.

    “Potential for abuse isn’t grounds for us to deny a label,” said TTB spokesman Tom Hogue.

  • Powdered Alcohol Not Approved by Feds

    Powdered Alcohol Not Approved by Feds

    It was previously reported that powdered alcohol, or Palcohol, had been approved by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Now the federal government said Monday that the label approval was done in “error.”

    The approval was granted on April 8, though has since been rescinded. “TTB did approve labels for Palcohol,” the Bureau said in a statement. “Those label approvals were issued in error and have since been surrendered.”

    Lipsmark, the company that produces Palcohol said in their own statement that “there seemed to be a discrepancy on our fill level, how much powder is in the bag. This doesn’t mean that Palcohol isn’t approved. It just means that these labels aren’t approved. We will re-submit labels.” Palcohol can be mixed with water to create an intoxicating beverage, and can also be sprinkled on food after it’s cooked.

    The creator of “Pal,” Mark Phillips, asks, “What’s worse than going to a concert, sporting event, etc. and having to pay $10, $15, $20 for a mixed drink with tax and tip. Are you kidding me?! Take Palcohol into the venue and enjoy a mixed drink for a fraction of the cost.” Though the TTB likely sees the product as a potential harbinger of a public health cataclysm.

    Palcohol’s site originally explained the potential of misuse of the product, in a manner surely to turn off substance abusers everywhere – “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room….snorting Palcohol. Yes, you can snort it. And you’ll get drunk almost instantly because the alcohol will be absorbed so quickly in your nose. Good idea? No. It will mess you up. Use Palcohol responsibly.”

    Phillips had initially been attempting to keep his invention under the radar, though was recently prompted to adjust some of the wording on his website. “We are excited by the approval of our powdered alcohol product, Palcohol. However, we were caught off guard with the release of some of our labels by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). As a result, people visited this website that we thought was under the radar because we had not made a formal announcement of Palcohol.”

    Image via Facebook

  • Powdered Alcohol: Regulators Gave Approval In Error

    The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved a powdered alcohol product called “palcohol,” but don’t get your hopes up. Tom Hogue, director of congressional and public affairs for the agency, said that the approval was made “in error.”

    The maker of powdered alcohol planned to release rum and vodka varieties. According to Lipsmark, parent company of Palcohol, the discrepancy was in “how much powder” was inside the 1-ounce packets. Lipsmark also mentioned that they would be resubmitting the product for approval.

    According to reports, the company was given “label approval” for palcohol on April 8, but because of the error, they surrendered the given approvals.

    Although the product gained attention as soon as it was announced, critics say that it may be dangerous.

    Robert Lehrman, who manages a beverage law website, said that Palcohol has gone through several stages before reaching the stage of label approval. He said in a phone interview that the reversal of the approval may be caused by the “lawmakers wanting more information on the powdered alcohols.”

    The concept of using powdered alcohol has been around since the 1970s, and creating the product consists of a process wherein carbohydrate powder absorbs the ethanol.

    The official website of Palcohol says that they are offering six types of powdered alcohol – Lemon Drop, Powderita, Mojito, Cosmopolitan, rum, and vodka. There is also a warning that the powder in the packets should not be snorted.

    The company suggests that the product is a great way to consume alcohol during concerts and football games. Just mix the powder with water and you get instant alcohol. They also recommended adding the alcohol powder on food, with combinations such as eggs and vodka. These posts have, however, been taken off the website.

    Despite the reversed approval, Palcohol is still hoping to be the first to market powdered alcohol in the United States.

    Image via YouTube

  • Powdered Alcohol Coming To Stores In Fall

    Powdered Alcohol Coming To Stores In Fall

    In fall of this year you’re going to be strolling through the booze section of a Safeway and notice a little black package labeled “Palcohol” – powdered alcohol you can mix with water, liquids, and food. Yes, food.

    This week, The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau signed off seven flavors of Pacohol: V (vodka), R (rum), Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Powderita (Margarita) and Lemon Drop. Add 5 ounces of water to the mix and you’ll wind up with a standard cocktail – with the same strength of one as well.

    Post by Palcohol.
    According to Palcohol’s website, the product is a solution to the rising cost of liquid alcohol: What’s worse than going to a concert, sporting event, etc. and having to pay $10, $15, $20 for a mixed drink with tax and tip. Are you kidding me?! Aside from mixing Palcohol with liquids, the website also recommended that it can be enjoyed with food: …we have found adding Palcohol to food is so much fun. Sprinkle Palcohol on almost any dish and give it an extra kick. Some of our favorites are the Kamikaze in guacamole, Rum on a BBQ sandwich, Cosmo on a salad and Vodka on eggs in the morning to start your day off right. Experiment. Palcohol is great on so many foods. Remember, you have to add Palcohol AFTER a dish is cooked as the alcohol will burn off if you cook with it…and that defeats the whole purpose. For you vegans out there, the adult Kool-Aid is gluten free, you can pretty much get drunk off salad. The website does warn to apply Palcohol responsibly: As Palcohol is a new product, we have yet to explore its potential of being added to food. As always, please use it responsibly. Because it adds alcohol to the dish, do not serve the dish to minors. The internet has reacted; some people are disgusted with the announcement of the US legalizing powdered alcohol: Some fear: Some imagine worst case scenarios: Besides passing red tape and becoming marketable, powdered alcohol isn’t something fairly new; Dutch students came up with some powdered alcoholic concoction back in 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGRahYQ8EAU Palcohol hits stores this fall and will also be available for purchase online. Image via Facebook

  • Powdered Alcohol Legalized in the U.S.

    Powdered Alcohol Legalized in the U.S.

    Powdered alcohol, or Palcohol, has just been approved by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Palcohol can be mixed with water to create an intoxicated beverage, and can also be sprinkled on food after it’s cooked.

    The company that is producing Palcohol is aptly called Palcohol, and calls their solution a quick fix to the rising costs of liquid beverages. The creator of “Pal,” Mark Phillips, asks, “What’s worse than going to a concert, sporting event, etc. and having to pay $10, $15, $20 for a mixed drink with tax and tip. Are you kidding me?! Take Palcohol into the venue and enjoy a mixed drink for a fraction of the cost.”

    Phillips had been attempting to keep his invention under the radar, though was recently prompted to adjust some of the wording on his website. “We are excited by the approval of our powdered alcohol product, Palcohol. However, we were caught off guard with the release of some of our labels by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). As a result, people visited this website that we thought was under the radar because we had not made a formal announcement of Palcohol.”

    Twitter intrigue concerning Pal:

    Palcohol already has its own haters’ Facebook page.

    Palcohol’s site offers some fast facts – When the Pal substance is added to roughly 5 ounces of water, it makes a standard cocktail. Flavors include V (vodka), R (rum), Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Powderita (tastes like a Margarita) and Lemon Drop. Palcohol is owned by a privately held company called Lipsmark, has no plans of going public any time soon, and is not seeking any new employees. Interestingly, Palcohol claims that its product will be sold online, as well as in liquor stores. Palcohol reminds culinary enthusiasts to not serve Pal-laced dishes to children.

    Perhaps Palcohol can be used by astronauts to compliment their MRE’s while on deep-space missions. Surely the powder can be snorted or laced with other snortables to add an extra “umph” to ones leisure activities. Fraternity brothers everywhere can rejoice in having an advanced means of butt chugging, with a potential time-release functionality. Palcohol is expected to launch some time in the fall.

    Image via Facebook

  • Powdered Alcohol Approved, Will Hit Stores Later This Year

    It won’t be long before your next trip to the liquor store involves deciding whether to buy liquid or powdered alcohol. Yes, powdered alcohol. There is such a thing.

    The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved several flavors of Palcohol this week, which is a powdered version of alcohol that you can add to a mixer or water to start working on that much-needed buzz. Palcohol is expected to be available to purchase sometime in the fall.

    Palcohol was created by Mark Phillips. According to the Palcohol website, it took Phillips years of working with scientists to create his powdered alcohol. There will be vodka and rum Palcohol that you can add to a mixer, plus four flavors that only require water to get the party started: Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Powderita (margarita), and Lemon Drop.

    Post by Palcohol.

    Palcohol will come in small packets that are equivalent to one shot of alcohol each. If you’re wondering why, exactly, there is a need for powdered alcohol, the answer is simple: convenience. From the website:

    Why? Sometimes liquid isn’t convenient. Because Palcohol is powder and very light, you can take it just about anywhere to enjoy a cocktail! That’s why we say: “Take your Pal wherever you go.”

    According to Telegraph, the Palcohol website also promoted using the powder when going out to avoid paying for expensive cocktails (this information was removed after news of Palcohol being approved made headlines):

    What’s worse than going to a concert, sporting event, etc. and having to pay $10, $15, $20 for a mixed drink with tax and tip. Are you kidding me?! Take Palcohol into the venue and enjoy a mixed drink for a fraction of the cost.

    While the Palcohol website suggests mixing the substance with water and mixers and says that it is okay to mix it with food, it does advise against snorting the substance. “Don’t do it!” the website warns. “It is not a responsible or smart way to use the product.” Despite the convenience of Palcohol, it’s easy to see why there is cause for concern regarding the potential dangers of the product. If young people will use alcohol tampons to get drunk faster, there’s no doubt that Palcohol will be used in the wrong way.

    The news that there is such a thing as powdered alcohol and that it will be available in the United States soon was met with skepticism, horror, and sheer delight:

    Take a look at a powdered vodka created in Russia below to get an idea of what to expect when Palcohol is released:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons