Well I did a little looking in to this. Even though I do not agree with the "alcohol powder" being available to minors. I think it has made the news - 1. beacuse students "invented" it and 2. their rep said out loud "Because the alcohol is not in liquid form, we can sell it to people below 16."
Th drinking age in the Netherlands is 16. in the US it is 21.
According to the world Health Organization the alcoholism rates for the netherlands is 5.5% in the US is 7.7%. This is for persons aged 12 and above.
It seems they start earlier, binge less and are more educated to the dangers than we are.
I do not believe alcohol should be promoted to anyone in any country who is not of legal drinking age.
Alcohol powder was intoduced into the US in 2004. It was manufactured in countries outside North America. The alcohol powder that had been imported into the US was marketed as a flavoring and was 60% alcohol by volume (120 proof). As opposed to the new 3% 6 proof netherlands one.
As far as I could find alcohol powder is no longer distributed by any company into the US.
The best thing we can do is educate our children and set a good example. Tell them the dangers and dont get falling down drunk in front of them. Realize if you can't go without that drink everyday, you may have a seious problem. Let them know that Brittney, Lindsay and all the others are wrong with their behavior. And even though they come out clean and shiny from rehab, it is a problem they will have for the rest of their lives.
One of my good friend's now ex wife was an alcoholic without bringing booze into the house.
Here is how she did it.
FDA standards require vanilla extract (non synthetic) must contain 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon during extraction and 35 percent alcohol, that is 70 proof.
Geritonic Liquid vitamins were 40 proof
Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash was 73.8 proof
Robitussin Night Relief cough syrup was 50 proof
Vicks Nyquil also 50 proof.
I don't know if any of these percentages have changed in the past couple years.
She was a nurse and covered it very well until her husband found all the small empty listerine and geritonic bottles under the couch. The one the patients didn't use & she took home to drink. If someone is desperate enough, they will drink anything to get it.
Anyway -No promoting to minors!
Education and example from the parents. Restriction from the government.
I am getting off my soapbox now...
