On April 8th, 2014, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved a powdered version of alcohol called Palcohol for sale. You can read more about how the substance is made and works at WFTV, or at the BevLaw blog. Instructions have also popped up recently for how to make your own powdered alcohol.

To be clear, the only way to have pure unadulterated alcohol in a powder form would be to have in a solid state, meaning it would need to be frozen at a temperature of approximately-173.2 degree Fahrenheit. Eating or “drinking” anything at this temperature would destroy your mouth and stomach.

Powdered alcohol isn’t really dry or solid alcohol, but is rather a modified modified starch, a maltodextrin made from tapioca. Liquid alcohol is mixed in with the powder and– because of the molecular structure of the powder– the powder absorbs alcohol well and still retains a powdery appearance.

Keep in mind that any high concentration of alcohol raises concerns about flammability. While many beers hover around 5% alcohol content, you’ve likely seen high-proof spirits used to light desserts on fire at fancy restaurants. Powder alcohol is very flammable and should not be used around cigarettes or other open flames.

There are no details yet as to how this relatively new form of powder alcohol will interact with Oregon’s DUI statutes concerning “intoxicating liquor.”