NSW Liquor Stores Support View to Ban Powdered Alcohol

The Liquor Stores Association NSW (LSA NSW) supports the NSW Government’s view to ban the sale of powdered alcohol in NSW, and calls on other State and Territory jurisdictions to follow suit.

LSA NSW Executive Director Michael Waters said, “There is no place in Australia’s responsible drinking culture for a powdered alcohol product to exist.

“We notified Deputy Premier Troy Grant in March 2015 when powdered alcohol was approved to be sold in the United States, and were pleased to receive his correspondence last week, seeking our feedback on his preliminary view and proposal to amend the NSW liquor laws, to result in powdered alcohol being prescribed as an undesirable liquor product and legislatively banned from sale.

“Liquor retailers are the guardians of prevailing community standards and remain vigilant in ensuring products that have appeal to young people or encourage excessive consumption never find their way into our stores.

Opponents of powdered alcohol have sighted a number of significant concerns against the ALSA Product Ranging Guidelines, including appealing to minors in its packaging, leading to confusion with non-alcohol products, drawing association with drug culture, trading on its intoxicating effects, and encouraging immoderate consumption through its addition to any beverage product.

LSA NSW first became aware of this matter in mid-2014, when the New York State Senate passed a Bill that would prohibit the selling or provision for consumption of powdered alcohol, in the event that the US Food & Drug Administration approved the product for US distribution.

To ensure the reputation of our sector and assist our members, LSA NSW continues to promote standards of operation for its members beyond the required standards of legal compliance, and has implemented a range of voluntary product and service control initiatives across member stores which are focussed on responsible supply and promotion of alcohol.

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