Powdered alcoholPowdered alcohol was recently approved for production and could be in stores across the country by this summer.

Just days after federal regulators approved the sale of powdered alcohol, State Sen. Rick Jones announced he is working on legislation to keep it out of Michigan. Other states have taken similar steps.

The product, sometimes called palcohol, is as simple as one packet equals one shot when mixed with water. Powdered alcohol, or palcohol, is meant to be user-friendly.

The company behind the product plans to sell foil pouches with the powder that can also be used as the glass from which the consumer would drink the beverage. When the powder is mixed with water, it will be about the same as one standard-sized drink and will be available in different flavors and varieties.

Health Beat spoke with Spectrum Health’s Lisa Lowery, MD, division chief for adolescent medicine, on what this new method of drinking means for you and your teens.

Dr. Lowery explained that there are several potential dangers surrounding this new product, including the ability to sneak it into public events more easily, or spike people’s drinks.

There is also the worry that uninformed minors might abuse the product by snorting it to get high, but Dr. Lowery believes it would take a very large amount of this powder to achieve that outcome.

“What is important to remember is that this powder is indeed alcohol, and it needs to be treated the exact same way as liquor, wine or beer,” Dr. Lowery said. “As responsible parents, it’s important to have discussions with teenagers about drinking, and also to lead by example.”

Dr. Lowery shared the following tips for parents with teenagers at home:

  • Model good behavior as parents at social events
  • Do not drink alcohol with every meal, or at every event
  • Set a good example by being conscious of how many drinks you have as a parent before driving
  • Talk openly about the dangers of drinking and driving with your teens

“Teens pick up on activities they see in friends and family members, and being a positive role model and setting a good example really is a good piece of advice,” Dr. Lowery said.

As with liquid alcohol, the same rules apply to palochol: Consumers must be at least 21 to buy it.