Senate Passes Griffo's Bill to Ban Sale of Powdered Alcohol

The New York State Senate today passed legislation (S1757A), sponsored by Senator Joseph Griffo (R-C-I, Rome), that would prohibit the sale of any powdered or crystalline alcohol product in the state. 

Senator Griffo said, “With every rising trend we see in substance abuse among young people, we already know how quickly some adolescents are willing to try the next new thing, often with unfortunate consequences. Powdered alcohol is yet another new, potentially dangerous substance that can get into the wrong hands, and I don’t want to wait around to see what that might mean for our children. I am glad the Senate has taken the lead in banning the sale of powdered alcohol across our State, and I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to join us in this effort to protect our children.”

Powdered alcohol, which will be marketed and sold as “Palcohol,” is a powder that when mixed six ounces of liquid, creates the equivalent of a standard mixed drink.

In 2014, the manufacturer of Palcohol sought federal approval to market their product. In 2015, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved revised labels allowing the product to legally be sold in the United States, unless otherwise prohibited. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)concluded that the use of ingredients in Palcohol was in compliance with their regulations, and they do not, at this time, have legal basis to block this item from being sold. 

A potential danger with powdered alcohol is that multiple packets could be misused to form one single, possibly lethal drink. It could also increase the chances of underage drinking and substance abuse. Several states including Alaska, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia have already passed similar legislation. 

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.