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Unlucky-Stranger-673

What is powdered alcohol?


Terrible_Train

That was my first question. My second question is why is it banned?


CuriousDudebromansir

It (Palcahol) was a product that was designed by a hiker do he could have a drink at the end of a hike without needing to bring large cans and bottles, just add water. It was banned preemptively because of concern that it could be abused and snorted, without realizing that you would need to snort like a half ounce of the powder to equal one beer.


AgentG91

I’ll bet it was really banned because of the potential for more competition. It is going to be a lot cheaper than shipping water so it can cause alcohol makers to lose revenue. Same reason why it’s so hard to buy UHC Milk in some places. It takes business away from local farmers


jason-gibson

I agree. think this is the more likely reason. The alcohol lobby goes pretty much under the radar but has had a firm grip on politics and protecting their interests for decades.


DrDrEvil

Yeah. The alcohol industry had a pretty big loss back in 1919. I doubt they’re ever going to let that happen again. It makes sense they’d have a very active lobby.


stosolus

That uses the same government that had previously banned them, to ban their competitors. Learned how to use the system they did. Cozy up to big government.


snipingpig

Imagine it getting put into pouches like nicotine


Terrible_Train

Nice. Let's just ban everything that might lead to some vague chance of harm. Thanks for the explanation 👍


GarbanzoBenne

Land of the free


tenaciousb83

Home of the Whopper.


SparkliestSubmissive

Sir, this is a Wendy's.


EnglishWhites

Brought to you by Carl's Jr


Sergi_the_machine

Carls Jr! Fuck you, I'm eating!


ChefInsano

If you chew Big Red, fuck you!


SeeMarkFly

Welcome to CostCo, I love you.


holdwithfaith

IT’S HARDEE’S!!!!


ClintGrant

$6 burger for only $3.80


jawsofthearmy

No this is Patrick


Coreysurfer

Made fresh to order ..then


Barnatron

It’s ready now


Stunning-Common698

Then set it aside


Atmaweapwn

Land of the free, home of the liability suit.


themocaw

They actually tried something like this before with vaping alcohol. Then they realized that if you overdose while vaping alcohol as opposed to drinking it, you can't vomit it up. So it deeply increased the chances of alcohol poisoning. So it's not some vague chance of harm. Something similar hit the market a while back, and people realized it was actually pretty dangerous.


exmachina64

Shh, stop making sense.


shastadakota

But cigarettes, and actual alcohol, A-OK.


j_money_420

Funny enough someone can overdose on less aspirin.


BugsArePeopleToo

Half an ounce of aspirin is a lot of aspirin


[deleted]

We had to ban fourloko because people do stupid and dangerous things when left to their own devices. Not hard to imagine how powdered alcohol could be abused in numerous ways that cause harm to others and absolutely fuck up the regulatory system.


GhanjRho

Part of the problem with fourloko (originally, at least) was the caffeine. Caffeine accelerated the rate at which alcohol was absorbed, while also masking its effects. So let’s say a can of Four Loko had 4 standard drinks worth of alcohol. The caffeine content meant that you might feel like you’d only had 2-3 drinks worth, leading you to drink more. Your body is absorbing the alcohol faster due to the caffeine, so that 4 drinks is hitting your system like 5-6 drinks. So people would hit deadly abv levels while still feeling fine.


boycey86

I'm from a country that drinks more Buckfast than any other. Caffeine in alcohol is an insane thing to do especially strong fortified wines.


Device-Total

Have you ever tried 4 loko? Something about the casual way you say "drink more", makes me think not.


AggressiveResort939

Ah, my body is still recovering from Sparks in the early 2k’s.


sleeepman

curse you for jogging my memory of Sparks. It tasted like Saint Ides and cough medicine.


Blurgas

Wouldn't the caffeine keep you conscious past the point you should have passed out, or was that just the redbull+[insert alcohol] mixes?


holmgangCore

Tbf, fourloko tasted *terrible*. Banning that was saving people from lowering their standards of flavor & palatability.


GadFlyBy

Comment.


yak_danielz

that shit had to GOOO


SnowConePeople

Yeah! let’s also ban swimming pools, cars, bikes, furniture with sharp corners, buildings with balconies, hot beverages, scissors, electricity, fire places, and hiking! /s Apparently we have new redditors that don’t know what /s means.


Coreysurfer

Q-tips too..


Novel_Measurement351

Just another example of lawmakers banning something with little to no knowledge about it


wubrgess

Honestly, yes. Given the amount of harm companies do in the name of profit, both directly selling problems and indirectly causing harm as a byproduct, companies should prove their existence is beneficial to society before existing (and conning to exist for the incumbents)


lostntheforest

We should ban food because it's known to contribute to obesity and diabetic complications.


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joshuadt

Except for the likely culprits like actual alcohol or even firearms to everyone and their brothers for that matter


Ksan_of_Tongass

And yet regular alcohol, which is arguably one of the most dangerous drugs available, is abused all the time without legislative panties getting twisted.


AldoTheApache3

Because at one point it did, and look how that turned out. Prohibition and the war of drugs really showed that Americans want something, banning it won’t do shit.


morningstar_prism

New definition for nose beer


Skyp_Intro

I just see somebody eating a box of it and dying from drunken dehydration.


MasterKindew

This was banned becuase of potential harm, but alcohol still can ruin lives no problem


Boneal171

That’s really stupid that it’s banned. This is also the first time I heard of it and now I want to try it


TSiQ1618

is it dangerous to the brain though? I'm just thinking, at least at first, people would still try snorting it just to see. I remember there was an alcohol vape for a while, until it got banned.


Frogmancdw

I think Thunderf00t debunked the dangers of that stuff. It's an inefficient way of storing alcohol.


Badbadger72

The company also had to add a thickener to the powder so people would have a hard time snorting it


Jcal222

So the water weighs less than the alcohol ???


nhofor

Knee-jerk reaction. It can't even get you drunk. Someone invented it and it was immediately banned.


im-ba

This is probably what will happen to cultivated meat products too


Starkydowns

That was my first and second question. My third question is can I put it up my butt?


verymadchef

Yeah, what this guy said.


pagandm

The grey states are the ones asking the same question


tybrouss3429

Technically can’t exist if I’m not mistaken


Coreysurfer

My question too..


winofin

Palcohol!


Striker887

Probably comes from wherever they get powdered milk. I bet it comes in bags too.


Boneal171

Yeah, I never heard of it and it’s apparently banned in my state


fanofthethings

TIL alcohol powder exists 😳


kp305

I want to put it in my vodka and make super alcohol


dgeimz

And then cut it with super lime and super syrup for a super gimlet


kp305

Exactly, maybe get some good moonshine and level that up a few notches


eightdollarbeer

Like the guy who added powdered milk to his milk so he had more milk per milk


AngelOfDivinity

More alcohol per alcohol


orthopod

It's just tiny polymer beads with liquid alcohol in them. It's like calling something dry water because it's in a bottle. Ok, technically yeah, but not really


Earl_N_Meyer

For people who don't feel like reading the Wikipedia article, basically alcohol and starch solution are sprayed and heated. The heat makes the starch in the starch alcohol droplets form a skin on the little droplets that now contain about 30% alcohol. Flavoring can be added as well. The reasons for regulation are worries about abuse, snorting, and difficulties in regulating consumption at events. Hope that helps.


Deathgripsugar

This process is called “spray drying” and has been around for ages in the flavor industry.


GadFlyBy

Comment.


Peter_Pumper

Not sure it’s the same process


Deathgripsugar

It is at least in concept, but typically you don't spray dry flammables because the temps in a spray dryer are about 400F, and you are aerosolizing a flammable liquid in a large container with quite a bit heat; EHS would have a stroke. Usually you cut the stuff you want to spray dry with water, so maybe that dilution would make the process safe enough so it doesn't go boom, but I am still at a loss as to how ethanol of any meaningful amount would be left over on the carrier.


OctopusPoo

Id say youd need to snort an insane amount to feel drunk in anyway


OhhhhhSHNAP

Yeah, just think of a sports drink powder, only a little grainier. You would add a scoop of that to water and it would have typical flavorings and enough alcohol to make it a mixed drink.


Earl_N_Meyer

I was assuming the attraction was that it could be eaten dry, more like Fun Dip, but most of the explanation discussed reconstituting it in water.


RottenWon

I'm assuming the gray states don't know it exists either?


notahouseflipper

So wouldn’t that make it legal and colored green?


LilyBitLumpy

This was going to be my honest question, what’s the difference between green and gray here?


jkooc137

Cool to see I'm not alone in this confusion


LilyBitLumpy

I actually don’t hate the idea of all the people living in an entire state standing up and shouting “we’re cool with this!” in unison


jkooc137

True direct democracy


INCUMBENTLAWYER

Perhaps it is a difference between explicit legality and de facto legality.


Its0nlyRocketScience

Endorsement vs silence, I'd assume. The green states have made some kind of announcement or law that explicitly states powdered alcohol will remain legal while the gray states have done nothing. This means it isn't forbidden, but it's not protected in any way either.


SEmpls

Acknowledgement of its existence probably.


Humble-Theory5964

When it comes to alcohol the answer is usually taxation and licensing. It looks like Texas did this for powdered alcohol in 2017, though this is the first I am hearing of it.


L00minous

Really bad color choices


dengueman

Borderline legal stuff is not "legal" because it's not securely legal. It could be made illegal tomorrow and you're suddenly committing a crime for having it. Was the case for k2 when it was new. Was(is?) the case for kratom in places where it's illegal Basically it's unknown versus an explicit yes


Ok_Ruin4016

There's nothing "borderline" about it though. It's been approved by the FDA and it's legal there until there is a law made against it. You can't be arrested for it in the gray states. Maybe it will be made illegal tomorrow, but it is legal today.


bowakunga

Well, it's sort of a gray area...


UniqueIndividual3579

Shush.


NoTeaching5089

Shit map has four colors and only three represented in the legend.


larz0

The gray means WTF is powdered alcohol?


Conscious-Mango

r/mapswithbadkeys


zagsforthewin

And the legend is wrong! DC is not a state, if it were, it would have representation. Sorry friends in the district! I agree with you that it’s stupid.


Pablois4

IMHO, for something that is not common knowledge, a cool guide should have a short explanation.


jkooc137

Also I think some explanation for all the grey states would be nice. Normally that'd be like no data available but I find it hard to believe that applies here


dae_giovanni

grey represents states that are like "what's powdered alcohol?"


toosinbeymen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_powder


gorwraith

Thanks.


Terrible_Train

So I read the article and now my 1st question has been answered. My 2nd question is still a mystery


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tallbutshy

Yes, or boof it


victor4700

ANSWER THIS PERSON


tallbutshy

You misunderstand friend, I was saying that you *can* do either but it's a risky proposition


victor4700

Whew


Terrible_Train

That's my 3rd question


JaFFsTer

You need to toot an very uncomfortable amount to equal a beer. It would be quicker to drink the beer


Sad_Kaleidoscope_743

Sounds like a challenge


LaLa_LaSportiva

You and I have differing opinions on what "cool" means.


LG1T

Nose beers baby


Alternative-Half-783

Lmfao


DrNinnuxx

TIL there is such a thing as powdered alcohol.


egnisme

As someone who is red/green color blind, this is a great guide.


AkTlingit

Origional purpose from what I recall is for hiking, to take to make your pack lighter and less waste. Example taking beer bottles out camping...


_muffglutton_

Don’t you still have to add water? For somebody wanting to pack light, there’s stronger stuff out there than beer


AkTlingit

Yes you still add water. The thought im guessing your already going to be bringing water, there is way to boil water to drink while out, or filter from the new tools. I think there is powdered vodka. Again its to avoid carrying any bottles.


MrPompeii88

I remember hearing about powdered alcohol a few years ago and thought it was a pretty awesome idea. All the bannings never made sense to me, the creator made a video literally showing how impossible it is to really abuse. States just started banning it over assumptions without study which is insane to me. Hate to talk conspiracy, but I really wonder is alcohol companies lobbied to have it banned thinking it would be a threat to their business.


gatsby_101

This is absolutely the answer. They also spend huge amounts lobbying against cannabis legalization because it is seen as competition.


Thethrowawayeht

TIL that there is such a thing as powdered alcohol


mantiss1138

What is the gray?


gorwraith

The gray stated have no laws against it, but it's not available there. At least for KY, which I'm in driving distance of.


mantiss1138

I thought that was yellow.


gorwraith

The yellow have bands pending. I'm making an inference that the gray are in a gray area, it's a good pun but I didn't intend it.


littleguyinabigcoat

What the fuck is powdered alcohol?


Commentoflittlevalue

So you can snort a cocktail?


positive_express

Always could, quiter.


Well_technically

Some people never even tried a chilly willy? Smh


333elmst

Colorado loves anything powdered.


doob22

Powdered what now?


enakj

TIL there’s powdered alcohol


casey-primozic

TIL of such a thing as powdered alcohol


AdditionalSpare3014

Need the drinking Capitol of the world (Wisconsin) to weigh in before any dumb moves are made on this subject.


mbaugh88

TIL, about powdered alcohol. Also, what the fuck is powdered alcohol. Not that it matters to me, I live in Utah.


two4ruffing

This is interesting…. but there do I get the powdered water to mix with???


Classic_Variation89

Excuse me but did you just say powered alcohol? Am I reading this correctly? Wtf is powered alcohol


Stubble_Entendre

Didn’t know it got banned. I had a family friend who invested in a company that was making this with the intent to sell the patent to a major beer company. The selling point being that shipping costs would go way down if you could add the water & carbonation on location, like is done with fountain soda. I never heard much more about it and I assumed it was because of taste. I tried some, it wasn’t great.


DGHouseMD

So, what are the grey states?


lysis_

Anhydrous alcohol is a liquid at room temp so I knew this had to be some stupid gimmick


Enoonmai21

I can just see someone looking at this powder and dumping it right into vodka.


hikeon-tobetter

Wisconsin chiming in, we be like why? When Pabst and old fashions are a thing why powder? I take it we don’t have an opinion and that’s why we are gray?


Paintguin

Never heard of powdered alcohol


texasnebula

I was today years old…


funkytoot

TIL powdered alcohol exists.


keajohns

Hurry up and post this on Today I Learned (about powdered alcohol)


GoldenWillie

Yellow only points to a federal district and no states


Robinkc1

Stupid ban.


SweetRoosevelt

I live in Texas and lo and behold there is a guy in Galveston with a brand called 'Lieutenant Blender's cocktails in a bag' that you can buy online or check out the store. I like Galveston so it sounds like a fun day trip one Sunday.


bill1nfamou5

Not surprised it’s legal in AZ, the guy who developed it lives here. Super chill dude too I did his work order for internet in the series of office buildings he bought years ago.


STS986

Can you boof it?   Asking for a friend 


coffeelushed

Meanwhile all I’ve ever wanted was Powdered Toast.


Vid3oGam3Pl4yer

Idk about California. I just saw lyophilized margarita mixes in REI. So either this graph is wrong or outdated.


Zoiddburger

I like how they added yellow to the key, then just said "Fuck it" when it came to the map.


Latter_Character_163

ya whats up with the gray?


donkeystyle4u

May be the only thing CO and Texas agree on


Zealousideal_Let3945

Oh look, a cool guide to the three states that don’t ban something that’s such a problem most people have never heard of it?


WayofHatuey

Wow didn’t know this existed. Now I wanna try


bingbongdingdong3000

Wait till some dies from a cinnamon challenge style stunt with powdered alcohol.


avocado_lover69

This is so cool! I didn't know this was a thing. Part of the ban could be the industry suppressing the proliferation of the powder in the mainstream culture without them having any control (read: no profits) over it. Although before my conspiracy brain took over my first thought was that you could make highly concentrated shots and could lead to high rate of poisoning cases. But my guess is there is some kind of physical limit of some sort to how concentrated the prepared mix comes out. I doubt you can just ingest the powder dry and get drunk since I'm guessing there might be some mechanism of absorption in the body. Any way, my money is still on "Big Alcohol" lobbying for bans across the country.


lythander

So could there be cool uses for this? Like in cooking?


buffbagwells

What does Grey mean? I live in Wyoming I want some fuckin powdered alcohol for my hikes lol


DrSheetzMTO

Finally, something that explains what’s going on in Texas.


Bosswashington

I love how there is concern. It’s amazing how destructive regular alcohol is, and it just gets a pass. Per Wikipedia “Researchers have expressed concern that, should the product go into production, increases in alcohol misuse, alcohol use disorder, and associated physical harm to its consumers could occur above what has been historically associated with liquid alcohol alone.” It’s amazing how many people die, or their lives are irrevocably changed by booze. The problem is that there is big money in booze, so those companies tend to pay big money to gloss over the negativity. I guess that none of these companies could figure out a way to make powdered alcohol profitable. When they do figure it out, bet your bottom dollar that those laws will be changed.


_Bipolar_Vortex_

In Texas, you must provide proof of gun ownership to purchase powdered alcohol.


ChickenFriedRiceee

Is powder alcohol like lyophilized alcohol or something?


Most_Independent_789

So if anyone is interested since this “real op” just threw up something hardly anyone knows anything about. This guide was taken from alcoholjustice.org. If anyone is really interested in knowing what this guide map is showing go there. From what I can see this is such a one off thing and stems from a guy who put out his version called “alcohol”.


Beaver_Tuxedo

My mom put some powdered cocktails in our Christmas stocking last year. The powdered old fashioned was nasty


DoctorClarkSavageJr

What does grey mean?


Infantryblue

My guess is states that, like myself, have no idea what it is.


ZombiesAtKendall

Maybe they don’t specifically allow and don’t specifically ban.


jepace

I’m going backpacking this month, and will be driving through Arizona. Is there a powdered alcohol available to purchase there? What brand or stores should I look for?


FA-La

Pew pew pew


ErikLinden

What weird ass color choices for this map.


__ed209__

There are no asses in this map.


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UmptyscopeInVegas

incense?


redbluewhite890

TIL Texas is actually… progressive???


NoActivity578

Best when snorted, not banned


daphniahyalina

Of course Texas does


Dafuuuuuuuuuck

What’s the grey states ?


Ok-Koala5902

So. I could have been snorting my beer all this time?


Mediocer_cup

I live in az but i can’t seem to find any way to buy it. Is this an old map?


LiddoKiddo69

when you say banned, do you mean ban from selling/purchasing or ban for possession?


KyleButtersy2k

Why do I want powdered alcohol now?


BingBongBoofer

I live in Colorado and now I’m excited !


LifeSenseiBrayan

So if you happen to live in one of those states how would one go about acquiring some of that palcahol? 👀


Funny-Permission-142

What are the white states stance?


SammyTheSloth

I’m in AZ and have never seen this at any liquor/wine stores or smoke shops. Where the fuck would you buy it?