New York Senator Introduces Bill to Prohibit Powdered Alcohol

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has introduced legislation that would ban
the production, sale, distribution or possession of powdered alcohol. Schumer
sponsored a similar initiative in 2014, and introduction of the new bill comes
on the heels of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s March 10,
2015, approval of four labels for flavored Palcohol® products manufactured by
Lipsmark LLC.

“I am in total disbelief that our federal government has approved such an
obviously dangerous product, and so Congress must take matters into its own
hands and make powdered alcohol illegal,” Schumer said. “Underage alcohol
abuse is a growing epidemic with tragic consequences and powdered alcohol
could exacerbate this. We simply can’t sit back and wait for powdered alcohol
to hit store shelves across the country, potentially causing more alcohol-related
hospitalizations and God forbid, deaths.” See Press Release of Sen.
Charles Schumer, March 12, 2015; The Hill, March 13, 2015.

Palcohol’s “Beverage Formulation” would reportedly have “outdoor activity,”
“travel” and “hospitality” applications whereas the “Industrial Formulation”
could be used in medical, manufacturing and military settings.

Issue 558