Palcohol will increase alcohol abuse
After years of trial and error and consulting with scientists from all over the world, Mark Phillips completed the task he set out to do. He successfully created, Palcohol.
Palcohol is powder alcohol. It comes in a one ounce package and is meant to be poured into a water bottle, shaken up and then it turns into an alcoholic beverage to drink. It is planned to be released to the public this coming fall. Types will include vodka, rum and four different kinds of cocktails. The powder can also be sprinkled over food, not for flavor, but for a kick. According to Daily News, Palcohol “has already been approved for sale in Japan and other European countries.” Palcohol should not be allowed to be sold in America.
The product is intended for easy access which will create problems in a multitude of circumstances.
People will be able to store these one ounce packages in their purses, wallets or pockets. According to E News, Palcohol’s old website said, “What’s worse than going to a concert, sporting event, etc. and having to pay $10, $15, $20 for a mixed drink with tax and tip. Are you kidding me?! Take Palcohol into the venue and enjoy a mixed drink for a fraction of the cost!”
The product’s motto also does not encourage responsible usage. The company website states the motto of Palcohol as, “Take your pal wherever you go.”
Having the product this easily accessed will only encourage drinking and driving under the disguise of a water bottle. CBS news said, “The risk of abuse is high, experts say. The convenience of the packets could encourage over-consumption of alcohol, as well as accidents caused by intoxication, such as drunken driving.” Palcohol won’t just attract adults, but teens and even children. In an interview with CBS News, Dr. Kennan Heard, ER doctor and medical toxicologist at the University of Colorado said, “The other potential is that given the flavors it comes in, there’s the potential for it to be very appealing to small children.”
Not only is there a risk of drinking abuse, but, snorting the product has become a matter of discussion on social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
Even with these serious concerns, the company continues to not take a very serious approach to said problem. In a statement captured by USA Today, the company said, “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room … snorting Palcohol. Yes, you can snort it. And you’ll get drunk almost instantly. … Good idea? No. It will mess you up.” The company glamorizes the effects of snorting Palcohol and barely retracts to say it would be bad.
Since the company’s first approval to sell Palcohol in the U.S. was claimed as an error, changes to the product’s informational site have been altered greatly to get Palcohol approved for sale but the product has remained the same.
This shows that the product should not be trusted if the makers will do anything to get it on the shelf.
Instead of the previous “snorting” comment, the company website now says, according to Heavy, “Can I snort it? We have seen comments about goofballs wanting to snort it. Don’t do it!”
Although the company’s response is better, it is still very vague when speaking of such an intense subject.
The true intention of Palcohol is to simply make it easier to access alcohol and this cannot be thought of as a good thing. The easier it is to access alcohol, the more likely people will drink it and the more people will become intoxicated thus becoming a risk to others.
Citizens can still stop Palcohol from hitting liquor store shelves and polluting our people by making their voices heard and letting the government know that this is not what we want.
We do not want more mind altering substances being let out into our country. We do not want our sporting games to become drunken fests. We do not want our children and teens to illegally ingest these deteriorating chemicals. We do not want Palcohol.
As an upcoming graduate in the 2015 school year, Jessica Thomas is taking advantage of every opportunity thrown at her. Jessica is an active employee at...
Melissa Jernigan • Oct 26, 2014 at 7:36 pm
I had no idea what Palcohol was, and the possibilities it could present. The quotes from the company behind Palcohol, and the discussion behind snorting the alcohol really convinced me that Palcohol is a bad idea. The article never lost its flavor, nice job!
Paul Hudachek • May 27, 2014 at 8:30 am
This was a nice article. Even though my opinions on palcohol may not align with yours, I really respect the points that you made, and love the power behind your voice in this. You definitely did your research. My only qualm is that sometimes it was difficult to discover where you getting some of your sources, but overall, nicely done.
Emily Lodahl • May 26, 2014 at 9:15 pm
I really liked the strong facts that you included to support your opinion on the topic. It is a persuasive article that Palcohol is an unsafe product and should not be used, but you were not biased about it. Very professional use of language. Great job!
Lucy Langmack • May 23, 2014 at 3:13 pm
What a great topic Jessie!! You wrote a great, detailed, opinionated article and persuaded me! You had new points and facts in each paragraph and it kept me reading! Great job!