Oops! Powdered Alcohol Approved By Accident Is No Longer Approved
“We are excited by the approval of our powdered alcohol product, Palcohol,” the creator of the controversial powdered alcohol said when they noticed their label approvals. “However, we were caught off guard with the release of some of our labels by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). As a result, people visited this website that we thought was under the radar because we had not made a formal announcement of Palcohol.” It seems they were right to be surprised.
The creators of the powdered alcohol agreed to surrender the label approvals earlier today, because the approvals were actually made in error by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
Robert Lehrman runs a beverage law website that previously spotlighted the powdered alcohol. Lehrman had said that the label approval process would be lengthy, and now questions just how “accidental” the approval actually was. “An oversight of this nature does not ring true to me,” Lehrman said in a phone interview to USA Today. Lehrman suggested the TTB might have heard back from uneasy lawmakers asking questions after the approval. At one point he was quoted by Blisstree as saying, he was “absolutely astonished” that the powdered alcohol was approved. Lehrman said it “seems highly likely to raise a large number of legal issues and controversies.” The controversies don’t stop with lawmakers though. Concerned citizens have even started up a petition on change.org.
If powdered alcohol scares you, SIGN this petition. Send to all ur friends. https://t.co/cFrdBKJmDN
— kristen johnston (@kjothesmartass) April 21, 2014
According to the website for the powdered alcohol, its creator, Phillips, decided to make Palcohol because he’s an “active guy” and he wanted a way to enjoy some alcohol after hiking, biking or camping without having to carry bottles around. On the website, the manufacturer addresses concerns over snorting the powdered alcohol:
We have seen comments about goofballs wanting to snort it. Don’t do it! It is not a responsible or smart way to use the product. To take precautions against this action, we’ve added volume to the powder so it would take more than a half of a cup of powder to get the equivalent of one drink up your nose. You would feel a lot of pain for very little gain. Just use it the right way.
Twitter uses are having a field day over the Palcohol-TTB debacle.
“Except, psych!” re: powdered alcohol a.k.a. ‘palcohol’ — was approved in error due to a labeling discrepancy?! http://t.co/ANQu7MaYjp — sonal chokshi (@smc90) April 22, 2014
What do you think of the TTB’s accidental approval of the powdered alcohol?
