Thursday, March 12, 2015

"Everything You Want to Know About Palcohol, the Powdered Alcohol Approved by Feds"

I've mentioned my brush with the technology a couple times, link below.
FromABC News:
A product is expected to hit shelves this summer to turn water into wine -- well, into vodka, rum and a few cocktails -- but not everyone is happy about it. 

Palcohol, or powdered alcohol, was approved this week by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, part of the U.S. Treasury Department. But the powder packets that can turn water into a mixed drink have already been banned by several states amid fears that Palcohol can be easily abused. 

"As a parent, it's one thing to patrol for cases of beer or bottles of booze," said ABC News chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser, who is also a pediatrician. "But having to look for little packets, I worry that it could lead to more underage drinking, making it easier." 

He said he wasn't happy with the federal approval and explained there isn't much the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can do it about it right away. The FDA can only take products like this off shelves if they find a problem, he said, which is what happened with alcoholic energy drinks called Four Loko.
Here are a few questions ABC News viewers asked Besser on Twitter...MORE
...What's the point?
Lipsmark says Palcohol was dreamed up for people who love the outdoors but don't want to travel with heavy alcohol containers -- such as people who are going camping. 

Does it come in flavors?
Yes. It comes in vodka, rum, cosmopolitan, "Powderita" (a margarita flavor) and lemon drop. All but lemon drop were approved this week....
...Some years ago I was approached by a company seeking financing for their powdered vodka. 
When I was done laughing I had some research done on the principals and decided against doing anything with them.  
As it turned out the SEC eventually shut down another of their enterprises, thus besmirching the otherwise pristine reputation of the Boca Raton investment community. 
The powdered booze however turned out to be real, albeit with a patent owned by General Foods rather than the scamsters. 
Who knew?