THE RISE OF powdered alcohol has prompted ‘serious concerns’ from alcohol action groups here in Ireland – including that it could be used to spike drinks.

A product called “Palcohol” went viral in recent days after it was reported that the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the 10 to 12 per cent strenght powdered alcohol.

However, this was issued in error, and drink has currently failed to pass the labelling stage of approval.

The company originally branded itself as a product that could be sneaked into venues instead of paying for expensive drinks.

Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS) has branded this as “hugely irresponsible”.

“Promoting an alcohol product as one that you can drink in an undercover way is hugely irresponsible,” CEO Fionnuala Sheehan told TheJournal.ie.

Palcohol has since issued a statement to say that it does not condone any illegal use of the drink.

“You should check with the stadiums first to make sure they allow it because Palcohol shouldn’t be used illegally,” the company wrote on its website.

Even though the old verbiage was a bit edgy, we clearly stated then, and still remain adamant, that Palcohol should be used in a responsible and legal manner.

Sheehan added that another concern with powdered alcohol is that it blurs the difference between a soft drink an an alcohol drink.

“It’s a very significant lowering of the distinction of the we would normally perceive to be alcohol,” she said.

She noted as well that there is an under-age aspect to concerns as the drink would be consistent with the appearance of sherbet, which also means it could be easy to slip into drinks to spike them.

“It isn’t a responsible packaging,” she said.

Powdered alcohol has already been approved in Japan and some European countries.

Read: Americans were all set for powdered alcohol…but now look to be in for a wait >