Last updated : November 11, 2024
A new product called Palcohol may soon be available for people who want to make overindulgence and intoxication much faster and easier. Palcohol is simply freeze-dried alcohol in a powdered form. It is packaged in small packets that weigh only an ounce and can easily fit into any pocket. College fraternities might be thrilled with the idea, but health experts are worried about the potential for misuse and abuse that would almost certainly lead to tragic results.
Intended Use of Palcohol
Made strictly for convenience, Palcohol is added to water to create a traditional, drinkable form of alcohol. In a decidedly irresponsible move, the makers also suggest that consumers should experiment with it, and add it to food. With its concentrated formula and little direction for use, there would seem to be a high probability off adding toxic levels to food or even liquids. According to Mark Phillips, the creator of Palcohol, the product is as safe as standard alcohol, but its unusual concentration raises the concern of accidental overdose, especially since experimentation is encouraged. It is also questionable whether standard alcohol is truly safe.
Palcohol’s Stumbling Block
Earlier in April, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved Palcohol’s labels, but the decision was quickly reversed. An agency spokesperson claimed the approval was issued in error. Regulators intend to reevaluate the volume of alcohol contained in the product’s packets. Palcohol’s makers will have to resubmit proposed labels with clear explanations for the consumer so that misuse of the product is less likely. In spite of the setback, Palcohol may be available for purchase later this year.
Palcohol’s Potential Dangers
The convenience and unfamiliar potency of the product could potentially lead to more intoxication-related road accidents and dangerous activities. Palcohol products will be available in various cocktail flavors, so they may be appealing to children, and accidental consumption by small children could be fatal. Other novelty alcohol products have a troublesome track record. Four Loko, a beverage containing alcohol and caffeine, was eventually banned by the Food and Drug Administration because young people were drinking it and getting intoxicated faster. Another potential problem with Palcohol is its powdered form; experts are concerned that it could be inhaled like cocaine or heroin, which would produce an immediate high and repeated abuse.
Palcohol: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
Unlike liquid alcohol, Palcohol can be so easily concealed that it can be taken almost anywhere. This attribute, intended to be a convenience for buyers, is a threat to parents of teens and young adults. Parents should be aware that their children’s peers could simply carry Palcohol products in their purses or pockets without being noticed. Retailers could experience high theft rates, and those shoplifting the product would likely be underage consumers. Some supporters have suggested that making packaging changes, or adding fillers and binders to the formula could potentially reduce opportunities for abuse, but determined abusers could simply pour the contents into a sandwich bag or small container. When and if the product is available to the general public, concerned parents and medical workers should keep their eyes open to catch early signs of abuse.
