Powdered alcohol might not make its debut in Michigan.
State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, introduced a bill that could ban the use, possession and distribution of powdered alcohol — or Palcohol — in Michigan. The product was approved by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.“I believe powdered alcohol will lead to abuse and mistakes, and it’s a product that simply is not needed in the state of Michigan,” Jones said.Palcohol is a Kool-Aid-like substance that, when mixed with water, creates an alcoholic beverage. It can also be mixed to create cocktails.“I think that people will experiment with it and will not realize the quantity that (they) are taking in,“ said Jones, a former police officer. “I think it will lead to many alcohol poisonings, and I think it’s a big mistake.”State Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, introduced the same bill in the Michigan House of Representatives.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 39 states have introduced bills to ban or regulate Palcohol.
Alaska, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and Virginia have enacted prohibitions applied to the sale of powdered alcohol.
According to Palcohol’s website, creator Mark Phillips came up with the idea for the product after long hours of kayaking, hiking and biking when he had the desire to relax with an alcoholic beverage.
But when enjoying the great outdoors, a more compact form of beverage is necessary. It was this need for accessibility that played a key role in the creation of Palcohol.
Source: http://statenews.com/article/2015/04/powdered-alcohol