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AMA calls for ban on powdered alcohol

The AMA, during its 2016 annual meeting in Chicago, adopted a policy supporting federal and state legislation banning powdered alcohol in the United States, according to a press release.

The group is the latest health organization to express concern over the product Palcohol (Lipsmark), a powdered alcohol that in March 2015 gained approval from HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for commercial sale in the United States. According to the AMA, the product has been banned in more than 30 states due to concerns about its appeal and availability to youth.

“Given the variety of flavors that could be enticing to youth and concerns that the final alcohol concentration could be much greater than intended by the manufacturer, we believe that powdered alcohol has the potential to cause serious harm to minors and should be banned,” Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, an AMA board member, said in a press release. “We urge states and the federal government to prevent powdered alcohol from being manufactured, distributed, imported and sold in the U.S.”

According to an editorial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this year, Palcohol is the first powdered alcohol product to be approved for regular consumption in the United States. It had initially been scheduled for summer 2015 debut, but has yet to be released.

The product contains about 55% alcohol by weight, and is reconstituted by adding water. There are five planned flavors, including vodka, rum, cosmopolitan, “powderita” and lemon drop.

Its stated applications include usefulness in outdoor activities and travel, such as reducing airline fuel costs as companies would no longer have to stock heavier liquid alcohol. According to the editorial, the manufacturer has also cited several industrial uses, including as an antiseptic, a livestock supplement, windshield wiper fluid and as a fuel source for military transportation.

According to the AMA, alcohol is the most widely abused substance among young people in the United States, and when used in excess, is responsible for the death of 4,300 underage youth each year.

In a statement, AMA officials also reiterated their long-time support for reducing youth access to alcohol, and banning the marketing of alcohol products that appeal to those younger than 21 years.