Powdered Alcohol Approved For Sale By Federal Agency, Despite Safety Concerns

Palcohol, the powdered alcohol product that was briefly approved by federal regulators in 2014, has once again received label approvals from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), reports the Associated Press. The product is meant to be mixed with water to produce an alcoholic beverage. Palcohol founder Mark Phillips created the product because he wanted to be able to drink after hiking and other physical activities without having to carry around heavy bottles.

In April 2014, Palcohol was approved for sale by the TTB, but the agency rescinded that approval shortly thereafter, with the explanation that it had been granted in error.

TTP bureau spokesman Tom Hogue confirmed to the Associated Press that four varieties of Palcohol have been approved, though individual states will decide whether or not to allow the sale of Palcohol within their borders.

Thus far, lawmakers in a number of states have submitted legislation to ban the sale of powdered alcohol, including New York, Utah, Vermont, Iowa, Rhode Island, and Ohio.

Despite widespread safety concerns, however, Hogue told the AP, "Potential for abuse isn't grounds for us to deny a label."

According to Palcohol's website, production has yet to begin, but the company aims to introduce Palcohol to available markets by the summer.