Powdered Alcohol Ban Approved Amid Questions
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - A key Senate committee approved a bill Thursday that would ban the sale and use of powdered alcoholic beverages in Florida, though some lawmakers questioned why the state doesn't instead take a regulatory approach.
The bill (SB 998), filed by Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, is ready to go to the Senate floor after getting approved by the Rules Committee.
The issue focuses primarily on a new powdered-alcohol product called Palcohol, which can be mixed with water, cola or juice.
Margolis said lawmakers need to approve a ban before the powdered alcohol starts being sold in Florida and raised concerns about it being used by children.
"I think it's important to do this in advance before people get hooked on it,'' she said.
But Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, and Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, suggested that they think the state should regulated powdered alcohol, rather than try to ban it.
"We can't stop technology,'' said Richter, a top lieutenant to Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. "We need to responsibly regulate it."
"The News Service of Florida contributed to this report."
