Powdered Alcohol Label Approval Error

There has been some “buzz” recently about powdered alcohol, after it was reported that a product called "Palcohol" was approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, according to the Associated Press. On the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau website, Palcohol received "label approval" on April 8, 2014. It’s easy to imagine all the possibilities and dangers associated with alcohol in powdered form.

Fortunately, it appears that the approval of Palcohol was made in error. In an email to the AP, Tom Hogue, a representative for the federal bureau claimed that it was, in fact, an error.

Lipsmark, Palcohol's parent company, said that "there seemed to be a discrepancy on our fill level, how much powder is in the bag." 

"An oversight of this nature does not ring true to me," said Robert Lehrman in a phone interview. Lehrman runs a beverage law website; he said that for a product to make it to the label approval stage is an extensive process. He went on to say that it is possible the bureau received word from lawmakers who wanted more information on the powdered alcohol.

The fact that on Palcohol’s website it warns people that the powder should not be snorted should be a clear sign that some people will definitely use the product in unintended ways. Hopefully the recall of Palcohol’s labeling approval will give the right people the opportunity to dig deeper into the possible consequences of powdered alcohol hitting the shelves.

Lipsmark stated that they will resubmit for approval.

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