Feds approve then revoke approval for powdered alcohol Palcohol

Daily News Article   —   Posted on May 8, 2014

(by Jessica Firger, CBS News) – …Palcohol is freeze-dried alcohol in powder form, packaged in small packets that promises an easy way to take an alcoholic drink on the go. Some health experts are concerned it could be easily misused or abused, with potentially dangerous consequences.

Palcohol’s labels were approved by regulators at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) [in early April], before that decision was abruptly rescinded [canceled; revoked]. On [April 21st] a spokesperson from the agency told CBS News that the approvals were “issued in error.”

Despite [the reversal], Palcohol may still hit the market later this year. Regulators say they will reevaluate how much powder is in the packets and therefore the volume of alcohol each packet contains. Palcohol will need to resubmit the proposed labels to ensure the contents are explained clearly so consumers don’t abuse or misuse the product.

The risk of abuse is high, experts say. The convenience of the packets could encourage over-consumption of alcohol, as well as accidents caused by intoxication, such as drunken driving.

Dr. Kennon Heard, an ER doctor and medical toxicologist at the University of Colorado, told CBS News that because Palcohol is a new product there’s a risk for inadvertent misuse by people unfamiliar with its potency.

“The other potential is that given the flavors it comes in, there’s the potential for it to be very appealing to small children,” he said. The makers of Palcohol say the powders will be available to taste like cocktails such as a cosmopolitan and margarita.

As a doctor of emergency medicine, Heard has observed the repercussions of misuse of a number of novel intoxicating products. “We had this episode a few years ago with fortified sweet alcohol drinks,” he said of Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage that also contains caffeine. “Younger people who did not know the products were drinking them and getting intoxicated much faster.” The Food and Drug Administration later issued a warning, and eventually banned the beverages.

There have also recently been a number of recent cases involving overdosing on edible marijuana, in which individuals ingested as much as four times the recommended dose.

Additionally, some experts are concerned that the new powdery substance can be inhaled like elicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin. This would transmit the substance through the sinuses to the brain-blood barrier, which would result in an immediate high. …

While the recommended use for Palcohol is simply to add water to the powder, the company also suggests customers could experiment with more creative concepts, such as sprinkling it on food for “an extra kick.”

Mark Phillips, the creator of the product, told CBS News in an email statement that if used responsibly, Palcohol is as safe as standard alcohol.

“What Palcohol offers, because it’s a powder, is portability and lightness,” he said. “It is a great convenience for the person involved in activities where weight and bulk is a factor….like hiking, backpacking, etc. One package weighs about an ounce and is small enough to fit into any pocket.” [Phillips came up with the idea because he is an “active guy” and wanted a way to enjoy an adult beverage after long hours hiking, biking or camping without having to carry around heavy bottles.]

NOTE:  This article was originally published at CBS News on April 23.  Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission from CBS News. Visit the website at cbsnews .com.