COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio House has voted to ban the sale of powdered caffeine and alcohol.
The caffeine bill, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) was inspired by the death of an 18-year-old from LaGrange from a lethal dose of pure caffeine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the product, saying a teaspoon of the caffeine is approximately the same amount of caffeine in 25 cups of coffee.
A provision prohibiting the sale of powdered or crystalline alcohol, known as Palcohol, was added to the bill this week. The House previously passed legislation banning powdered alcohol, though that bill is pending in the Senate, which would have to OK changes to the measure approved by the House Wednesday.
The powder is sold online and can be added to any beverage to make it an alcoholic drink. It can be easily concealed and added to any beverage to make an alcoholic drink. Supporters of a ban say it poses a danger to underage Ohioans.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the sale of Palcohol in March but the National Conference of State Legislatures says 36 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have all introduced legislation addressing regulation of the product.