Alcohol in powdered form seems to be society’s hot new topic. However, since Palcohol was approved by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on March 10, it has been off to a rocky start.

As someone who likes to relax and sip on an adult beverage after hours of activity, Mark Phillips was tired of carrying around heavy bottles of alcohol and thus began the creation of Palcohol. 

The new substance has faced much criticism and questions of whether or not it should be banned. A main concern is that because of its powder form, it is easier to sneak into venues such as a movie theaters, schools and stadiums.

Pacohol may also make it easier to spike someone’s drink, be snorted to become drunk quicker and be easily accessible to kids.

If true, Palcohol could have a more negative effect on college campuses than a positive one. College campuses already have a problem with students abusing alcohol. Palcohol may only make matters worse.

“Overall, high-risk drinking is and has been a public health concern at all colleges and universities for decades,” said Brian Vanderheyden, program coordinator at Iowa State’s Thielen Student Health Center. “We do not know yet exactly what affect Palcohol could have, but I do not believe it will help the issue of high-risk drinking we are currently experiencing on campus or in our country.”

Phillips, however, would disagree. The Palcohol creator took the time to make a 16-minute video to post on the official Palcohol website, which includes a segment proving to critics why they are wrong.

“Because of the alcohol in powdered alcohol, snorting it is very painful,” Phillips said in regard to the notion that Palcohol may be snorted to become drunk much quicker.

He stated that it could take up to one hour to snort the amount of powder that comes in a Palcohol pouch. “Why would anyone choose to spend an hour of pain and misery snorting all of this powder to get one drink in their system, when they could just, oh I don’t know, drink a shot and accomplish the same thing.”

He took on the accusation that Palcohol would make it easier for underage kids to sneak into venues by showing four small liquor bottles next to one Palcohol pouch. He stated that the package was just too big.

“Palcohol is just like liquid alcohol,” Phillips said, challenging critics who claim underage children will be able to get ahold of Palcohol easier. “It will be sold in the same licensed establishments where alcohol is currently sold and only adults who are 21 years or older with proper identification can buy it.”

As for spiking someone’s drink, it takes minutes for the powder to fully dissolve, whereas liquid alcohol dissolves in seconds.

As you can see, Palcohol is an ongoing, back-and-forth issue.

“I think it could definitely be harmful if it got in the wrong hands, such as underage kids, but I think that is a problem with any alcohol or drug substance that is currently legal,” said Jenna Reding, junior in communication studies. “I think it could be beneficial to some people, but I feel like college kids will just stick to what they know.”

Some states, such as Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, South Carolina and Vermont, have already banned Palcohol and other states are well on their way.

“I believe this will continue to be a controversial issue for some time,” Vanderheyden said.