A powdered alcohol intended to be mixed up into drinks has gained approval from a federal regulator.
The product, called Palcohol, had received the green light from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau briefly last year before the bureau backtracked and said the label approvals had been given in error.
On Wednesday, bureau spokesman Tom Hogue told The Associated Press the issues were resolved and that four varieties of Palcohol were approved. But Hogue noted that states can also regulate alcohol sales in their borders.
Several states have already moved to ban powdered alcohol, including lawmakers in Colorado who last month advanced legislation to temporarily halt its sale. That bill has since morphed to ensure the regulation of powdered alcohol as if it were liquid alcohol once it gets federal approval.
Concerns have included abuse by minors, the potential to snort the powder and whether Palcohol's light weight would make it easy to sneak alcohol into public events or spike drinks.
Palcohol would come in a pouch, with water being added to the powder inside for the equivalent of an alcoholic drink.
A statement on Palcohol's website says the company hopes to have the product for sale this summer.
