Post: #1

Quote:

Humans have been enjoying alcohol for thousands of years in a variety of forms, but one aspect has always remained constant: it was liquid. Inventor Mark Phillips has created a product that could revolutionize what we think about cocktails and gives a whole new meaning to ‘dry martini’: powdered alcohol. The product, called Palcohol, has just gained approval from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). (See update at the bottom)

To turn Palcohol into your favorite adult beverage, you just add the powdered alcohol (which comes in a package sort of like a sugar packet) to five ounces of water. It currently comes in six varieties: rum, vodka, cosmopolitan, mojito, margarita, and lemon drop. Swapping out the water for a different mixer (such as soda or juice) can personalize the drink to suit an individual’s taste preference.

Many are excited because Palcohol could be discretely brought in to places where liquor is not available or exorbitantly priced, such as sporting events, concerts, movie theaters, airplanes, cruise ships, and the like. However, it is for this precise reason that many are opposing its availability.

One of the first questions to be brought up regarding the product was if it could be snorted. The short answer is yes, but it’s a terrible idea. The Palcohol website says this about snorting: “We have seen comments about goofballs wanting to snort it. Don't do it! It is not a responsible or smart way to use the product. To take precautions against this action, we've added volume to the powder so it would take more than a half of a cup of powder to get the equivalent of one drink up your nose. You would feel a lot of pain for very little gain. Just use it the right way.”

Despite approval from the TTB, there are many obstacles Palcohol faces before it shows up on store shelves, as each state must also approve the sale of powdered alcohol. Even if it is perfectly legal, retailers and wholesalers will also need to support its sale. It is almost certain that those who oppose it will be putting considerable pressure on them to oppose it, so there’s no telling how everything will play out. Despite the legal uncertainty, the minds behind Palcohol are still planning for a fall availability. There are no current predictions on how much the product will cost.

Update 4/21/2014 5:45 PDT: It has now come to light that Palcohol received approval for their label, not the product. A representative for the federal bureau said that the approval was made in error, though details were not provided about how the error occurred. Palcohol creator Mark Phillips was not available for comment, but agreed to surrender the approvals this afternoon. Phillips will likely re-evaluate the situation and try for approval on his labels again.

Obviously some time away from hitting the market but potentially a way of getting around CA beach laws...

http://www.iflscience.com/chemistry/powd...-coming-us

Post: #2

Looks like buying shots of water will become hugely popular.

Wald

Post: #3

This has got to be a prank. Alcohol has a lower boiling point than water, how could they offer this in a dehydrated, powder form? I have heard of glass nano-beads that can hold fluid but not sure about the health effects of consumption.

Post: #4

Some asshole will try to snort it.

Post: #5

I thought it was a prank, but apparently they can have the alcohol absorbed into a carbohydrate which has the effect of powdered alcohol.

Post: #6

What this does is it makes it nearly impossible for cops to stop you on the street if you are drinking. Also, how are clubs going to be able to search for this?

Post: #7

haha, these guys think people wont snort it? Have they ever come across people who shove drinks up their ass to bypass the stomach?

Or better yet, just blend the powder into a finer one and hey presto, snort away.

Post: #8

doesn't seem to safe, it'll be interesting how this goes at colleges in the US

Post: #9

Honestly, I feel like it will take some extremely clever marketing for this to gain any ground.

There are a lot of emotions associated with alcohol in the form that it exists today, and I think robbing your product of those connotations could have some financially painful consequences for your business.

Post: #10

Really cool concept and product, I'm sure the US will find some way to shit on it and not allow it saying teens will snort it or it's too easy to abuse. Just look at something like 4 Loco drink that they made them take the cafeeine and much of the alcohol out of.

Post: #11

You CAN snort this stuff, and it gets you drunk almost immediately apparently. Also, "dehydration" is not a boiling point problem here. Alcohol doesn't have to be "dehydrated", there is no water in it. The problem is to isolate the compound in solid form.

This is going to be devastating. It comes out in the fall? Right when little Freshmen get to college.

ALCOHOLOCAUST COMMENCES!

But I will certainly have my fun with this shit if it works. Bring baggies to clubs, drink from the tap in the bathroom.

Sorority type sluts will also abuse the shit out of this. Girls with "eating disorders" who love to party will also abuse the shit out of this. Those two groups might be the same group.

Post: #12

Prediction time- there will be a moral panic about this powder and its involvement in 'date rape.'

Post: #13

Powdered Alcohol Gets Federal Approval

The powdered alcohol product, called Palcohol, has received the greenlight from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Intended to be mixed into drinks, the approval is an about-face from the bureau’s previous stance.

Briefly last year, the federal agency gave the okay for the product before the bureau backtracked and said the label approvals had been given in error. But this week, bureau spokesman Tom Hogue told The Associated Press the issues were resolved and that four varieties of Palcohol were approved.

Federal approval of Palcohol doesn’t interfere with legislation by six states have already placed bans on powdered alcohol since states regulate sales in their borders.Just last week, efforts to add Colorado to the list of states with restrictions on powdered alcohol ran aground in the state Legislature.

Lipsmark LLC, the privately held company and the owner of Palcohol, sees the product as a handy way to have alcohol for outdoor activities, as well as travel and hospitality applications because of its convenience and lightweight nature. It also has plans for a non-ingestible industrial formulation that could be used in medical, manufacturing and energy applications.

According the company website, most of the previous media coverage has focused on perceived negative aspects of powdered alcohol, leading to the bans. In turn, the company has addressed those statements:

1. People will snort it and get drunk. Not true. It's painful to snort due to the alcohol. 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?

2. Powdered alcohol will make it easier to sneak into venues. A package of Palcohol is 4" x 6"....almost five times bigger than a 50ml bottle of liquid alcohol so Palcohol is much harder to conceal. Alcohol in any format is subject to abuse if someone is determined to do so. Nothing prevents a criminal bent on violating the law from pouring liquid alcohol from its original package into a water bottle, a lunchbox thermos, a hip flask, etc. for surreptitious consumption.

3. It will be easier to spike a drink. Not true. Palcohol does not dissolve instantly in liquid and would take over a minute of stirring to dissolve the equivalent of one shot of alcohol into a drink when one can spike a drink with liquid alcohol in about three seconds. Please view the video for a demonstration.

4. Kids will get a hold of it easier. Not true. Palcohol is sold wherever liquid alcohol is sold and the same rules apply, you must be 21 years or older to buy it.

According to the Palcohol website, founder Mark Phillips noted the approval of his product and hopes to have the product for sale this summer.

Post: #14

Maybe I'm wrong about this because I rarely drink, but the point of drinking is to sit down with a good drink and relax. By using improvised shit, it totally misses the point of drinking. It's like instant coffee.

Post: #15

If it's in my area, I will try it.

Post: #16

I'm not sure I really get the point of this product...

Post: #17

Can you smoke it?

Post: #18

"Nothing prevents a criminal bent on violating the law from pouring liquid alcohol from its original package into a water bottle, a lunchbox thermos, a hip flask, etc. for surreptitious consumption."


I think its funny that that is considered criminal behavior.

Post: #19

I'll continue consuming alcohol the right way, with a vodka soaked tampon shoved in my rectum.

Post: #20

(03-13-2015 01:51 AM)spokepoker Wrote:  Powdered Alcohol Gets Federal Approval

The powdered alcohol product, called Palcohol, has received the greenlight from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Intended to be mixed into drinks, the approval is an about-face from the bureau’s previous stance.

Briefly last year, the federal agency gave the okay for the product before the bureau backtracked and said the label approvals had been given in error. But this week, bureau spokesman Tom Hogue told The Associated Press the issues were resolved and that four varieties of Palcohol were approved.

Federal approval of Palcohol doesn’t interfere with legislation by six states have already placed bans on powdered alcohol since states regulate sales in their borders.Just last week, efforts to add Colorado to the list of states with restrictions on powdered alcohol ran aground in the state Legislature.

Lipsmark LLC, the privately held company and the owner of Palcohol, sees the product as a handy way to have alcohol for outdoor activities, as well as travel and hospitality applications because of its convenience and lightweight nature. It also has plans for a non-ingestible industrial formulation that could be used in medical, manufacturing and energy applications.

According the company website, most of the previous media coverage has focused on perceived negative aspects of powdered alcohol, leading to the bans. In turn, the company has addressed those statements:

1. People will snort it and get drunk. Not true. It's painful to snort due to the alcohol. 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?

2. Powdered alcohol will make it easier to sneak into venues. A package of Palcohol is 4" x 6"....almost five times bigger than a 50ml bottle of liquid alcohol so Palcohol is much harder to conceal. Alcohol in any format is subject to abuse if someone is determined to do so. Nothing prevents a criminal bent on violating the law from pouring liquid alcohol from its original package into a water bottle, a lunchbox thermos, a hip flask, etc. for surreptitious consumption.

3. It will be easier to spike a drink. Not true. Palcohol does not dissolve instantly in liquid and would take over a minute of stirring to dissolve the equivalent of one shot of alcohol into a drink when one can spike a drink with liquid alcohol in about three seconds. Please view the video for a demonstration.

4. Kids will get a hold of it easier. Not true. Palcohol is sold wherever liquid alcohol is sold and the same rules apply, you must be 21 years or older to buy it.

According to the Palcohol website, founder Mark Phillips noted the approval of his product and hopes to have the product for sale this summer.

Honestly, don't all these restrictions defeat the point of powder alcohol. If you're going to make it that hard to mix it, why the fuck would anyone buy it?

Post: #21

It's just a gimmick.