Will You Get Drunk On Powdered Alcohol?
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From instant coffee to sports drink powders, the powdered just-add-water versions of our favorite drinks make it easy to enjoy any time in any place. With convenience on the rise, it seems that there’s a different form of almost anything, even alcohol.
Powdered alcohol may seem like a great idea at first — no more clunky glass bottles and heavy cans. However, the dangerous intoxicating effects of alcohol are encapsulated into a more concentrated form — only augmenting the risks. To understand why, let’s better understand exactly what powdered alcohol is.
Powdered alcohol, or “palcohol,” is liquid alcohol that has been transformed into a powder through a process called microencapsulation. Through this drying process, alcohol molecules are absorbed by sugar molecules, turning alcohol into a solid form.
Powdered alcohol can be rehydrated with water, turning it back into a liquid. In addition to being an on-the-go alcoholic beverage, the creator of powdered alcohol suggests that palcohol can be used as a makeshift disinfectant for emergencies. As it’s simply a different form of alcoholic beverages, does it make us drunk in the same way?
Microencapsulation that turns alcohol into a powdered form does not alter the compounds of alcohol. Ethanol, the main component in alcohol that causes intoxication, is present in palcohol and can cause the same feeling of drunkenness that liquid alcoholic beverages provoke. Think of Gatorade powder: when mixed with water, the drink contains the same electrolytes as the bottled liquid form.
Although powdered alcohol can cause intoxication, the level of alcohol content in the powdered form versus liquid differs. Most powdered alcohol is marketed as 50% alcohol by weight and 10% alcohol by volume (ABV). Liquid alcohol is measured using ABV and ranges from about 5% for lower-end beers to up to 60% for some distilled spirits. This inconsistency leads to confusion when calculating the number of standard drinks that palcohol contains. If we aren’t able to determine the amount of alcohol in a palcohol drink, is it legal?
In 2014, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved the first labels for palcohol in the U.S. Two weeks later, the TTB recalled their approval and noted that it was an error. Following the recall, four types of palcohol were made legal. This back-and-forth foreshadowed the varying opinions and regulations surrounding the palcohol that developed in the following years.
Powdered alcohol started as a legal substance in all states. Due to its dangers, it’s now banned in 31 states with nearly all states considering legislation for regulation. Conflicting regulations by state are apparent in the U.S., but the majority of states recognize its dangers.
Like the states, other countries’ laws surrounding the legality of powdered alcohol vary. The toxic substance is banned in countries such as Canada and Australia. However, it’s legal in some parts of Europe and Asia with strict regulations.
Although containing the same intoxicating compounds as alcoholic beverages, the varied legislation surrounding powdered alcohol speaks to the heightened dangers of the solid form. Let’s get a clearer look at the differences between powdered alcohol and liquid alcohol to understand why.
Powdered alcohol when mixed with water can create the same beverage as the ready-to-drink bottled versions we’re familiar with. Despite this, the two are distinct due to three major differences:
Due to these major differences, we can see that alcohol in its powdered form is considered more dangerous than liquid alcohol. Let’s further examine what the risks are.
Alcohol is an intoxicating substance that is associated with risks and harmful effects. Powdered alcohol comes with additional dangers due to unique factors of the altered form:
Aside from the distinctive risks of powdered alcohol, it also has the same risks as liquid alcoholic beverages. One of them being interactions with other drugs.
Palcohol and liquid alcohol have the same drug interactions. An interaction with a drug means that drinking alcohol can alter the way a drug affects our body. This can change the effectiveness and cause potentially dangerous side effects.
When using other drugs such as prescription medication, it’s always important to check if there are any direct interactions. While there aren’t always direct interactions, the effects of ethanol on other systems in our body could still negatively impact the effectiveness of other drugs. Alcohol and palcohol’s extensive impacts on our health may encourage us to seek a healthier relationship with them.
Having a better relationship with alcohol is beneficial to our overall health and well-being. Mindful drinking practices help us prioritize our health:
The important thing is to start somewhere. Consider which of these steps would be most attainable and start there.
Powdered alcohol, another form of alcoholic beverage, was approved in the U.S. in 2014 but is now banned or strictly regulated in most places for good reason. Similar to flavored nicotine vapes, powdered alcohol‘s increased convenience adds to the already extensive list of negative impacts of alcohol.
While powdered alcohol has additional risks associated with its consumption, the legislation surrounding it urges us to take a second look at the detrimental impacts of its close cousin — liquid alcoholic beverages. Is liquid alcohol so different from its powdered form? While we continue to question this, we can implement the outlined mindful drinking practices and gain a healthier relationship with alcohol. No matter powdered or liquid, cut back and embark on a new path!
1. What is palcohol?
Palcohol is another name for the powdered form of alcohol.
2. Will powdered alcohol get me drunk?
Yes. Powdered alcohol is another form of alcohol and contains the same compound as drinking alcohol that causes intoxication.
3. Is powdered alcohol legal?
Powdered alcohol is illegal in all states except three. Legality also varies between countries but is highly regulated in countries that do allow it.
4. Why is powdered alcohol so dangerous?
Powdered alcohol is so dangerous because it is easily concealed. The ease of access can encourage excessive consumption.
5. How is powdered alcohol different from drinking alcohol?
Powdered alcohol is different from drinking alcohol because of the way it’s made, the amount of alcohol in it, and its transportability.
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