Palcohol. What is it? It's a powdered alcohol that has recently been approved for sale in the USA.On the one hand, it is just adding choice, offering a new, crystalline form of one of the world's most commonly used and enjoyed chemicals (although recent news stories1 of some Australians brewing moonshine from Vegemite are surely pushing choice beyond the pale). However, there are some specific challenges with palcohol, which are well articulated in an editorial in JAMA by Naimi & Mosher.2 The powder is sold at 50% alcohol by weight, but the strength by volume will depend on how it is diluted. It can be more easily concealed than liquid alcohol, and it could be added – surreptitiously – to another alcoholic beverage. The potential for misuse, including by children, is self-evident; indeed, a video of an individual eating palcohol has already been uploaded, along with discussions on inhaling it, though such acts appear unlikely to produce intoxication. What is its current status in the UK? Answering a parliamentary question in the House of Lords earlier this year Lord Bates noted3 that ‘The Government is not aware of powdered alcohol being marketed or made available to buy in England and Wales'. However, a very quick and simple check on a well-known internet search engine gave a web-link to buy palcohol online.
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