N.C. looks to ban powdered alcohol

A bill was introduced on Wednesday in the North Carolina House that would prohibit powdered alcohol in the state. A federal regulator, earlier this month, approved a product called Palcohol, intended to be mixed up into drinks.

“There’s obvious avenues to abuse that kind of stuff. It could get into wrong hands or be used covertly, so there’s a lot of concern,” said SBI Special Agent Donnie Varnell.

The Powdered Alcohol Prohibition bill – introduced by Democratic Rep. Shelly Willingham (Edgecombe, Martin) – would make it illegal for anyone “to manufacture, sell, transport, import, deliver, furnish, purchase, consume, or possess powdered alcohol.” Several other states have already moved to ban the product, which is not even on the market yet.