Powdered alcohol will be banned in Victoria.

Update: The Victorian government says it will move to ban powdered alcohol.

Jane Garrett, the Victorian Minister for Liquor Regulation, said she will write to her interstate and federal counterparts on Monday about stopping the powder from flooding the market.

“This product is dangerous,” Ms Garrett said.

“It will be easy to get into venues, easy to carry around in backpacks, it’s obviously a bit of a novelty.

“Regulating the amount that’s used is really difficult.

“How this thing is measured, if it’s poured into a punch bowl, what does it do?

“There’s concerns that people might be snorting it.”

Ms. Garrett has said that although she has the power to ban the product in Victoria, she is aiming for a national approach.

Mamamia previously wrote: 

Powdered alcohol has just been legalised in the United States — despite the fact the national drug and alcohol authority rejected it last year.

Powdered alcohol has just been legalised in America, despite fears it will be used as a rape weapon.

‘Palcohol’ is packaged in a pouch, which you can top up with water, shake and drink. There is the equivalent of one shot of alcohol in each packet.

Palcohol was briefly legalised last year, and has long been available in Germany, but the American drug and alcohol authority reversed its ruling after widespread criticism of the product.

On Wednesday, it agreed to allow the product to be sold.

However, some experts are saying the substance could be used to drug unsuspecting victims. It is quick-dissolving, and as alcoholic as a vodka.

Last year, Jane Binakonsky from John Hopkins University wrote in The Conversation:

“We know very little about this new vehicle of alcohol delivery: is it easily detectable when added to other drinks? Could it be used as another form of stealth intoxication in a manner similar to other drugs used to facilitate sexual assaults, for example? If the company suggest adding it to food but say it doesn’t affect taste, does this up the chances of some unsuspecting person consuming it?”

The product also comes in a variety of flavours, such as Cosmopolitan and ‘Powderita’, sparking fears Palcohol will replace alco-pops as the new drink of choice for young people.

It’s for reasons like these Jim Mosher from the John Hopkins School of Public Health, doesn’t want the product in Australia.

“It’s just a product we don’t need,” he told ABC News last year.

“It can be snorted and it seems to me that that is the most risky possibility.”

“We don’t have any research on this, but the notion that you’d be snorting alcohol in a powdered form – [there is] the potential for abuse and for really serious damage to the brain and potentially death.

“If you get your blood-alcohol level too high you can die.”

Palcohol founder Mark Phillips has previously responded to claims people were snorting his product, stating it’s extremely “painful”, “burns a lot” and “won’t get you drunk faster.”

Phillips also believes you can’t reject the product on the likelihood it will be abused. Plus, he says, it’s great for hikers.

“When I hike, I like to have a drink when I reach my destination. Palcohol is so light and easy to pack. It’s perfect for hiking and backpacking,” Phillips said.

Related content: 10 reasons why I won’t give my child alcohol for schoolies.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in the US approved the substance, although it is up to the individual states to rule on whether or not they will allow it to be distributed.

Restrictions to Palcohol use will be the same as other types of alcohol.

Related content: Giving up alcohol doesn’t have to be hard.

Geoff Munro from the Australian Drug Foundation said that while it is likely there will be an attempt to bring the substance to Australia, it isn’t wanted here.

“When we heard about it last year we were concerned about the product and we wouldn’t want to see it available in Australia,” he told news.com.au.

The foundation is also concerned it will set back progress the nation has made in stunting youth alcohol consumption.

Would you like to keep Palcohol out of Australia?