I think this has to go down as potentially the most destructive corporate product ever. This is dumb on so many levels it's hard to list them all. But let me start with underage drinking as some have already mentioned. Kids are sneaking alcohol now that's not easily concealable. So you're going to provide a product that makes it not only more convenient for them but that can be hidden just about anywhere?
Secondly, even if a state like Texas bans the powdered substance but the state of Louisiana approves it how are you going to police that? A driver for instance could hide the substance in another powdered beverage container and the police wouldn't know the difference. I suppose someone would have to come up with a powdered drink tester to detect the alcohol. If that technology is not available now it could be years before it hits the market.
Third, if alcohol is made more readily available and cheap it's safe to assume more people will be drinking it. That brings the high probability of more drunk drivers on the road which will by extension increase the number of people killed by them. The only deterrent I can think of for such incidences is mandatory sentencing of at least 50 years in prison. It might make some think about the consequences a little more before they get behind the wheel.
Certainly the inventors of this product stand to make billions of dollars. But at what cost? Yes they and their investors will be quite wealthy but what about the overall impact on society? Not only that but we live in a sue happy nation. So I can already foresee the thousands of lawsuits that will be filed clogging the already over burdened justice system by people who will makes claims of negligence.
Finally I can already hear the arguments about our various freedoms and that the makers of this stuff have a right to bring it to market. But to me some ideas are so potentially damaging to society they should remain that, just ideas.
