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New York finalises powdered alcohol ban
New York has become the latest state to ban powdered alcohol product Palcohol amid claims it is a “public health disaster waiting to happen”.
Palcohol is now banned in the state of New YorkState Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Friday 14 August banning the sale of any powdered or crystalline alcohol product, otherwise known as Palcohol.
The Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the sale of Palcohol in the US in March this year, despite the product already being pre-emptively banned in a number of states.
The TTB initially claimed that approval had been issued “in error” in April last year due to discrepancies over fill level.
Palcohol comes in the form of a white powder which, when dissolved with six ounces (180ml) of water, creates an alcoholic beverage.
The brand’s owner, Lipsmark, has launched a five-strong range, including: “V”, a powder made from vodka; “R”, made from Puerto Rican rum, and Powderita, Cosmopolitan and Lemon Drop cocktail flavours.
In June last year, the New York Senate passed a bill to ban the sale of product, which Governor Cuomo has now signed into law.
“This dangerous product is a public health disaster waiting to happen,” Cuomo said. “I am proud to sign this legislation that will keep powdered alcohol off the shelves and out of the wrong hands.”
Cuomo added that Palcohol is “easy to conceal”, meaning the ability for underage youths to access it is increased, while “incorrect” mixing could lead to “unsafe levels of intoxication”.
New York joins more than 20 other states which have already banned Palcohol.
Senator Joseph Griffo, who sponsored the legislation in the Senate, said: “By now making it illegal to sell powdered alcohol in the state of New York, this law signed today gives us that rare proactive opportunity to avoid exposing our most vulnerable to one more substance that could have a detrimental impact on their lives.”
However, Palcohol founder Mark Philips has vigorously defended the product, claiming it is no more dangerous than liquid alcohol, and that it is predominantly aimed towards outdoor enthusiasts with the tagline “when alcohol is not convenient”.
Philips also argues that in banning Palcohol, lawmakers are acting “irresponsibly” as the product could find its may on to the black market.