# Powdered Alchohol?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 20, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522 "2014-04-20T02:58:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/1 "2014-04-20T02:58:44Z")
Sweet Merciful Crap! [Powdered alcohol?](http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2014/04/19/Powdered-alcohol-palcohol-now-a-thing/8371397951670/) Is this really a thing or am I being whooshed? This has “bad idea” written all over it… ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/2 "2014-04-20T03:00:20Z")
It’s been around for years, the street name is “Vicodin.” ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/3 "2014-04-20T03:15:55Z")
It’s actually a sugar like substance that has absorbed pure or nearly pure ethanol (alcohol). [Alcohol powder - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_powder) > [@](#): > > According to food chemist Udo Pollmer of the European Institute of Food and Nutrition Sciences in Munich, alcohol can be absorbed in cyclodextrines, a sugar derivate. In this way, encapsuled in small capsules, the fluid can be handled as a powder. The cyclodextrines can absorb an estimated 60 percent of their own weight in alcohol.[1] A US patent has been registered for the process as early as 1974. Nothing in common with vicodin that I can see. I assume that was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/4 "2014-04-20T13:20:15Z")
The way the product has been posted on a lot of blogs and such with the same weird non-informative text raises flags for me. Liquor distribution in the US is controlled by the states. Almost all of them won’t allow this at all. At best 2 might allow it, but that’s even unlikely. There is a possibility that investors might be drawn in and not see their money back. Or someone gets sold the patent rights and find out they can’t do anything with it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/5 "2014-04-20T14:32:12Z")
That explains how the candy in _[Lover Come Back](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lover_Come_Back_%281961_film%29)_ worked. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/6 "2014-04-20T14:37:19Z")
It’s been around a while, and I’m pretty sure we’ve had threads about it. IIRC, one application is powdered wine for backpackers. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/7 "2014-04-21T00:56:35Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > It’s been around a while, and I’m pretty sure we’ve had threads about it. IIRC, one application is powdered wine for backpackers. But its silly. Why not just take liquid alcohol ? its not like the alcohol is reduced in volume when its turned to a powder. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/8 "2014-04-21T03:25:38Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > But its silly. > > Why not just take liquid alcohol ? its not like the alcohol is reduced in volume when its turned to a powder. Because of its _weight._ ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/9 "2014-04-21T03:57:27Z")
It sounds counter intuitive. Obviously, fluid ounce for fluid ounce, this powder weighs \*more \*for an equivalent amount of alcohol (because the sugar stuff weighs something, and absorbs 60% of its weight in alcohol). But wine isn’t that strong. You only need a few grams of this stuff to add to filtered stream water to make an alcoholic beverage with the alcohol content of beer or wine. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/10 "2014-04-21T13:48:03Z")
So if you only add a few drops of water to a package of powder, you have a slurry of nearly 100% alcohol with the consistency of mud? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/11 "2014-04-21T13:54:47Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So if you only add a few drops of water to a package of powder, you have a slurry of nearly 100% alcohol with the consistency of mud? I’m bad at math. But I can’t see how you could get over 120 proof - a strong rum or vodka level. If 60% by weight is alcohol, then the powder is 120 proof alone, is it not? Is proof determined by weight percentage or by volume percentage? I don’t know. Any water added will reduce the proof from there. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/12 "2014-04-21T14:26:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So if you only add a few drops of water to a package of powder, you have a slurry of nearly 100% alcohol with the consistency of mud? I see you’ve encountered the drink specials at Fridays… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/13 "2014-04-22T08:41:32Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > It sounds counter intuitive. Obviously, fluid ounce for fluid ounce, this powder weighs \*more \*for an equivalent amount of alcohol (because the sugar stuff weighs something, and absorbs 60% of its weight in alcohol). But wine isn’t that strong. You only need a few grams of this stuff to add to filtered stream water to make an alcoholic beverage with the alcohol content of beer or wine. What’s the advantage over 95% alcohol? I mean, if all you want is something to make a drink alcoholic, that would still be lighter than the powdered alcohol. Does it have an advantage for conveying flavor over a liquid? The article mentions margarita-flavor, which makes me thing they’re basically adding powdered margarita mix to powdered alcohol. Couldn’t you do the same with liquid alcohol? Of course, the article also makes it sound like the main advantage is being able to sneak it in places that don’t allow you to BYO. Might not have any camping applications at all. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/14 "2014-04-22T09:45:56Z")
Sounds like kava. Always reminded me of alcoholic dirt. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/15 "2014-04-22T11:17:22Z")
About the only advantage I can think of is that you could bring it into campgrounds that prohibit glass containers. But they make wine in juice boxes now, so no, this is not something I’m going to be buying. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/16 "2014-04-22T11:49:57Z")
Sounds like a great idea for festivals and such where they search you because they don’t want people drinking inside [del]because they don’t want you to not pay $9 for a beer[/del]. Camping applications? Probably not, unless you’re doing it long term and the car is packed to the gills. Backpacking sounds useful, though. The only solution there is hard alcohol. The usual MO is a flask of whiskey, top off with water as you go through the trip. > [@even\_sven](#): > > It’s been around a while, and I’m pretty sure we’ve had threads about it. IIRC, one application is powdered wine for backpackers. This is just alcohol I think. They do have powdered beer though. It’s a more involved process, because you need to carbonate it. A review said it was pretty decent. I _think_ [it was this stuff](http://www.patsbcb.com/). Pretty sure. They have a pale ale and black IPA, it does sound fancy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/17 "2014-04-22T14:14:25Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > They do have powdered beer though. It’s a more involved process, because you need to carbonate it. A review said it was pretty decent. I _think_ [it was this stuff](http://www.patsbcb.com/). Pretty sure. They have a pale ale and black IPA, it does sound fancy. So far as I can tell, that stuff is a beer concentrate in gel form, not powder. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-alchohol/686522/18 "2014-04-22T15:48:16Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > Because of its _weight._ So, taking ethanol and suspending it in sugar is less weight than just taking ethanol?