Palcohol Update: Approval Is Reversed For Powdered Alcohol! See 5 Reasons This Product Was A Bad Idea Anyways

A few days ago, news broke that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved a product called Palcohol, which basically is powdered alcohol. The product has six varieties. V, made from vodka distilled four times; R, made from Puerto Rican rum; Cosmopolitan; Mojito; Lemon Drop; and the newest, Powderita, which is powder margarita. Each individual pouch of powder is the equivalent of one shot of alcohol.

To enjoy one of these powder cocktails, you just have to add water. For the V and R versions, they can be combined with a mixer. Mark Phillips, a Phoenix-area entrepreneur, developed Palcohol because he wanted an easy way to carry mixed drinks on hiking and kayaking trips. According to the website, Palcohol is "a great convenience for the person on the go. One package weighs about an ounce and is small enough to fit into any pocket."

Although the product was approved, Tom Hogue, a representative for the federal bureau, said in an email to The Associated Press that the approval was an error. The agency has not responded to any further questions. Meanwhile, Lipsmark, which is the company that makes Palcohol, said that "there seemed to be a discrepancy [about] how much powder" is in the packets, which are meant to be mixed with water. They said they will resubmit the product for approval.

Even if Palcohol is ultimately approved at the federal level, it will still be subject to state regulations and would be available only to adults 21 and over. Although the concept of powdered alcohol is new in the United States, similar products are already on the market in countries such as Japan, Germany and the Netherlands. However, we’ve compiled 5 reasons why this new product is not such a good idea anyways.

1) The product could raise a large number of legal issues since each state has to set regulation for the sales and distribution of the powdered alcohol. It could take some states a lot of time to lay down all the rules.

2) It could be a controversial product. Although it was developed as an easy way to carry mixed drinks on trips and excursions, dehydrated alcohol could be used for illegal activities such as sneaking liquor into concerts and sporting events.

3) Although Palcohol is supposed to be dissolved in enough water, a person could use too little water and create a shot with dangerous concentrations of alcohol.

4) Some people were already talking about snorting it. To which the company added a clause on they FAQ. "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," the website states.

5) No one knows the process they use to make powdered alcohol. The company’s website doesn’t state it and they refused to comment on it when asked.