Powdered alcohol is just the latest in a series of drugs that have posed a threat to Alabama. Along with synthetic marijuana and other products, Alabama is in danger, especially the children in our state. The Alabama Legislature must take action to prevent powdered alcohol from being accessible and causing more harm to our state and to our children.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau briefly granted approval to a new powdered form of alcohol earlier this month. Now, shortly a couple of weeks later, the agency withdrew its approval, saying the approval had been given in error. This was by far a terrible mistake.
This incident has brought the issue and legality of powdered alcohol to national media headlines and has parents and addiction experts and counselors across the nation worried. It is important that our state legislature take pre-emptive action before this dangerous product starts showing up in our local grocery and convenience stores.
It has come to my attention that many Alabamians are unaware of what powdered alcohol is and how it works. The product is not new and has been sold abroad since the early 1970s. However, it has never been sold or produced in the United States. Powdered alcohol works just like coffee or tea. There is a reason we haven’t had it and that reason has not changed.
We can no longer sugarcoat problems, especially not here in Alabama. Underage drinking does exist and it’s a battle we will continue to fight. Parents and groups across the country have come out in strong opposition of powdered alcohol. This product would be easy for those underage to obtain. It can be extremely dangerous, especially if one were to snort the powder rather than mixing it.
Companies that make the substance have warned that snorting their product can get a person drunk almost instantly. This alone could easily lead to abuse and overdosing, in addition to the countless amount of accidents and fatalities of innocent people this drug will cause. The chemicals used to turn the alcohol into a powder are some of the same elements found in our cabinets like detergents. Putting this into your body just isn’t healthy!
We still do not have answers to many questions. We do not know the long-term consequences of this drug or how ingesting it, without mixing it will affect the body. We do not know if it will cause toxicity in the blood or what effect it may have on vital organs. These questions still remain unanswered.
This drug will easily get into the hands of underage adults and teenagers. Powdered alcohol is easy to conceal which makes it easier to sneak it into places like schools, movie theaters, or sporting events. Today teachers are constantly having to check students’ containers from home to make sure the water bottle actually contains water and that the sweet tea is actually sweet tea. How far is this going to go? At one time, the website of the company that produces this powdered alcohol actually recommended sneaking it into concerts and sprinkling it on food!
For a company to suggest illegal actions makes me uneasy. If they are willing to endorse crimes, I’m worried that they may be just as irresponsible with their product itself. Clearly this company does not care about the safety of others or the danger they are willing to cause.
Adults can make their own choices. It is not up to me to legislate the choices of adults in our state. But this issue is not about letting grown-ups make their own choices. This is about public health and protecting our children and the people of our state.
This drug is a danger to the state of Alabama and to our children. Powdered alcohol is a dangerous substance that could potentially cause significant health problems, including addiction and overdosing. At the very least, the federal government needs to do more research before allowing this product to be sold in American stores.
I believe that powdered alcohol is a threat to Alabama. It is hard enough to keep our kids safe and to keep them in school, now this is just another substance parents and law enforcement across the state have to worry about.
Legislators must be proactive about this issue and by any means necessary fight to keep powdered alcohol out of Alabama.
Representative Rod Scott
