Overblown powdered alcohol controversy
Published 7:00 am Saturday, March 14, 2015
Alcohol is a beverage many people drink socially, however, there are those who abuse alcohol to the point of becoming ill or engaging in underage drinking.
Could the release of Palcohol make alcohol abuse in the U.S. worse?
Recently, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved Palcohol, which is a powdered alcohol mix, NPR reported.
The powdery substance is stored inside a small pouch, which can be transformed into popular bar drinks like cosmopolitans or margaritas by adding water, according to the news source.
Just days after Palcohol received the green light, the product received negative backlash from several states moving to ban the alcoholic product.
Opponents of Palcohol claim the product makes alcohol readily accessible to underage drinkers, makes it easier for people to sneak alcohol into public events and could be used as a drug, NBC News reported.
It seems as though Palcohol has become controversial overnight, but the product isn’t any different from another alcoholic product currently in store shelves, called Daily’s Cocktails. Consumers can find the small liquid alcohol pouches in most grocery stores.
Both products are essentially the same, except the former is made of powdered alcohol.
While Palcohol seems unconventional, the idea behind the product is to make liquor readily available for people on-the-go.
Powdered alcohol is definitely not a necessity in today’s world, but it’s not something that will lead to more people abusing alcohol. If anything, it would probably give those who already drink alcohol another avenue to choose from.
It seems as though some states are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Unless the product has serious health risks, it shouldn’t be seen any differently than any other form of alcohol.