More Than a Liquid: Powdered Alcohol and Its Potential Impact on Today’s Teenagers - Abstract
Powdered alcohol or “palcohol” was originated in the 1970s, but resurfaced in 2007 in the Netherlands and again in the United States in 2014. The concept for powdered alcohol is that it can be sold cheaply in small packets and mixed with water. Once the powdered alcohol and water are mixed, the beverage fizzes and mimics flavors such as margarita, lemon drop, mojito and cosmopolitan, as well as maintain the effects of regular alcohol. Criticisms of palcohol is that it can be easily snorted since it is already in powdered form and that it can be easily concealed in venues that prohibit alcohol like schools. Furthermore, it has also been speculated that people’s drinks could be more easily spiked and cause controversy like the date rape drug. The makers of palcohol dispute these claims and are waiting for government approval to sell the product. In the meantime, cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended to address the misuse and abuse of alcohol, be it in a liquid or a powdered form.