NY Daily News: NYS Sen. Brad Hoylman seeks to ban powdered alcohol in New York

NYS Sen. Brad Hoylman seeks to ban powdered alcohol in New York

By Ken Lovett, May 6, 2014

A Manhattan state senator has introduced a bill to ban the sale of powdered alcohol products in New York.

Under the bill introduced Monday by Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), first time offenders would faces fines of up to $5,000. Repeat offenders could be hit with a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $10,000 per offense.

The bill would also prohibit anyone under 21 from possessing the powdered alcohol, known as Palcohol.

The bill comes as US Sen. Charles Schumer on Sunday urged the Food and Drug Administration to probe the product, which is awaiting federal approval to hit shelves by the fall.

“Regardless of the federal government’s deliberation on this particular brand, we can and should act now in New York State to prohibit the sale of this and similar irresponsible products,” Hoylman wrote in a memo seeking bill co-sponsors.

Hoylman noted that the controversial product was originally billed as something that is easy to bring into sporting events or sprinkle on food. Some also promoted it by saying it can be snorted, thus allowing a person to get immediately drunk.