States are moving to ban alcohol in powdered form before the product goes on sale out of concern it will increase underage drinking.
Newly elected Colorado Republican Rep. JoAnn Windholz is introducing a bill to ban "Palcohol" in the session that begins next month.
The product is touted by its inventor as a convenient way to mix a drink. In a video, Palcohol's creator Mark Phillips defends the powder and says it will only be sold in liquor stores.
The company has previously been more cavalier in its advertisements. SB Nation says Palcohol's website originally stated the following:
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.
The company's website has since been adjusted:
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?
Lawmakers nationwide are worried that the powdered form will only make it easier for children to access alcohol.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, South Carolina and Vermont have already banned powdered alcohol. And Minnesota, Ohio, and New York are also considering outlawing it.
Lipsmark, the company that owns Palcohol, notes that federal regulators have determined the product to be safe. However, the company is waiting for labeling approval.
