Ohio Lawmakers Consider Ban On Powdered Alcohol Before It Hits The Market

10TV.COM ^ | 16 JULY 2014 | JIM HEATH

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In this age of instant coffee, Mark Phillips created powdered alcohol for those on the go.

"Palcohol is just like liquid alcohol," said Phillips. "It will be sold in the same licensed establishments where alcohol is currently sold and only adults with proper ID over 21 can buy it."

The powder comes in six varieties of liquor. It weighs an ounce and can fit into any pocket and replace a bottle.

Phillips says the concept is simple, but not all parents agree.

"I'm not a big fan," said Amanda Morgan, who is the mother of two teenagers. "I can't believe it would be something that they would legalize and make available. I think it would be far too easy for underage kids to sneak it, depending on how it's packaged and how it's sold."

[HiTech RedNeck]

I’ve seen remarks about such a powder maybe a couple of times, but cannot figure out what kind of solid chemical would be able to react with water to produce ethanol, at least one which isn’t pretty noxious in its own right. Ethanol itself is incorrigibly liquid at room temperature.

[Blood of Tyrants]

“I think it would be far too easy for underage kids to sneak it, depending on how it’s packaged and how it’s sold.”

As if it is so hard for teens to get alcohol now.

[wrench]

IIRC, it is micro-encapsulated. Not really “powdered”.

[HiTech RedNeck]

And so you get all the issues with “volume” that are associated with the alcohol... why not just little packets of Everclear. With a lot less trouble.

[wrench]

Just an expensive novelty. Should just let market forces take over and it will soon be history.

[sickoflibs]

RE:”I’ve seen remarks about such a powder maybe a couple of times, but cannot figure out what kind of solid chemical would be able to react with water to produce ethanol, at least one which isn’t pretty noxious in its own right. Ethanol itself is incorrigibly liquid at room temperature.”

I have wondered this myself so I googled it,
Many pages say its liquid alcohol encapsulated in a material that dissolves in water, also read that Japan was able to do it in the 1970s.

[Bobalu]

[HiTech RedNeck]

It would need to occupy more space than the equivalent amount of liquid. How could it be used for more mischief than the liquid? Whoever did it would need to have an astounding budget.

[Cboldt]

VIP!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Science!

[Organic Panic]

JERKS!!! It is nothing but pandering to the aircraft service lobby and alcohol vendor lobby. Regardless of what lawmakers saw there is nothing but vendor dollars at stake here.

[reed13k]

I think just the alcohol and flavor is encapsulated so a 40% alcohol by volume might be 60% less volume encapsulated. Add the water when you get home to get the full bottle - or mix it with less water for more punch or add more like some bars to make it last. Could save quite a bit in shipping costs... Though flavor would be impacted by local water quality

[clearcarbon]

"Many pages say its liquid alcohol encapsulated in a material that dissolves in water, also read that Japan was able to do it in the 1970s."

I recall those old articles about the Japanese version identifying the encapsulation material as gelatin.

[mountainbunny]

In this case, it is most likely maltodextrin made from tapioca. There are recipes out there, and it costs about $10.00 a pound or so.

The recipe I saw had 100 grams of powder to 30 grams of high proof alcohol.

I don’t drink much, and can’t see the point of it for the purpose of getting drunk. The thing I envision it being good for is cooking or setting alight - it is highly flammable.