The next big entry into the realm of powdered drink mix? Alcohol. Yes, powdered booze could be hitting store shelves as early as this summer after the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved labels on Tuesday for Lipsmark LLC, the Arizona-based manufacturer of the powdered alcoholic mix, called “Palcohol."
The products approved include a powdered rum, vodka, margarita, and cosmopolitan.
The FDA did a scientific review of the product and didn’t find any concerns with its ingredients nor any legal reason to ban it. Some states (South Carolina, Vermont, and Louisiana) have adopted pre-emptive bans against the product. California, however, has no laws banning its sale.
Concerns about Palcohol include abuse by minors, potential for the powder to be snorted, and whether the powder would make it easier to spike drinks or sneak into public events. Lipsmark founder and Palcohol creator Mark Phillips says his product is safe and that he created it because he hikes and backpacks frequently, and enjoys a drink when he gets where he’s going.
What, if any, concerns do you have about the approval of powdered alcohol? Would you buy it?
Guest:
Robert Lehrman, founding attorney at Lehrman Beverage Law, a law firm specializing in the regulation of a wide array of beverages. His blog, BevLog, reviews thousands of beer, wine, and spirit labels approved by the TTB each year.