When you think of alcohol, you likely think of a glass of wine with dinner, a cold beer at a sports game, a margarita on a patio, or similar scenario involving a beverage. With the variety of alcoholic beverages out there, it may be surprising to learn that companies are seeking new ways to cause alcohol intoxication. One company in particular is trying to market and sell alcohol in powdered form–known simply as “Palcohol.”

While federal agencies did initially give the manufacturer approval to make Palcohol, the majority of state legislatures rose up against the product. New Jersey is one of the states that outlawed Palcohol and made it illegal to purchase, sell, deliver, or use this substance.

Legislators had many concerns regarding the sales and use of Palcohol, most related to underage individuals. They feared that it would be easier to possess, conceal, and use a powdered substance instead of getting served and drinking an alcoholic beverage. In addition, they thought it would be much more difficult to judge intoxication levels when using Palcohol, especially for relatively inexperienced alcohol users. The lack of judgment can lead to serious injuries both in drunk driving accidents and in alcohol poisonings.

A young person may face drunk driving charges no matter how they ingest the alcohol. Alcohol in both liquid form and powdered form will increase a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC), which can be measured by administering a breath test or a blood test. For underage individuals, any detectable alcohol in your system can result in an arrest and DUI charges due to New Jersey’s Zero Tolerance laws for underage drivers. This means that even a few sips of alcohol or a tiny bit of powdered alcohol can result in a drunk driving charge. A conviction can result in loss of current driving privileges, community service, a conviction on your record, and other serious consequences.

Call our Criminal Defense Office in Totowa New Jersey for More Information

If your child has been accused of underage intoxication or drunk driving in New Jersey, it is highly important that you seek qualified legal representation as soon as possible. At the Law Office of David W. Polsky, we have provided successful criminal defense for people of all ages facing drunk driving charges. We understand how to build an effective defense in this type of case, so please call our office at (973) 686-9787 to discuss how we can assist you today.