What Is Palcohol and why isn’t it Welcome in Utah?
Salt Lake City, March 24, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Among the 55 bills signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert yesterday was HB 48, Powdered Alcohol Amendments. The bill will make possession of any powdered form of alcohol illegal in most circumstances. The measure makes it illegal to use, sell or possess the substance unless it is being used for certain research or commercial purposes.
His approval comes on the heels of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s recent approval of a type of powdered alcohol intended to be mixed up into drinks.
The product, called Palcohol, comes in a pouch, and an alcoholic drink can be formed by adding water. The website Palcohol.com states that Palcohol will be made in two different formulations, a Beverage Formulation (ingestible) and an Industrial Formulation (non-ingestible).
The website says: “Beverage Formulation: In its beverage formulation, Palcohol is for the legitimate and responsible enjoyment by lawful consumers and has several applications:
- Outdoor Activity Applications: Palcohol is a boon to outdoors enthusiasts such as campers, hikers and others who wanted to enjoy adult beverages responsibly without having the undue burden of carrying heavy bottles of liquid.
- Travel Applications: Similarly, adult travelers journeying to destinations far from home could conveniently and lawfully carry their favorite cocktail in powder format. Moderate quantities of flavored Palcohol products carried in resealable pouches are a fraction of the weight and bulk associated with traditional liquor packaging.
- Hospitality Applications: Because powdered alcohol is so light, airlines can reduce the weight on an airplane by serving powdered vs. liquid alcohol and save millions on fuel costs. An ice cream manufacturer wants to add Palcohol to their ice cream to make an “adult” version. A hotel in Hawaii is interested in powdered alcohol because it would save them so much on shipping from the mainland. That savings in shipping costs would be attractive to many resorts who rely on imported alcohol.”
The bill sponsor, Rep. Steve Eliason (R- Sandy) said he is opposed to the use of powdered alcohol for a myriad of reasons. “Domestic violence groups and others are concerned that powdered alcohol can be used for date rape purposes, while the group Police Chiefs Association is concerned that effectively, it blows the lid open on open container laws, because you can turn water, orange juice etc. into alcoholic beverages. You can also put it in food.” He said he is also concerned that the powder can be snorted, or sneaked into movie theaters and sporting venues. “I am also concerned that there are various flavors available, like Lemon Drop, which may appeal to underage use by adding a new ‘fun’ element.” He said a pouch of the powdered alcohol is equivalent to a mixed drink, so for example if you put it into a beer, you have a “super-charged” drink.
The ban will take effect on May 12.
