California Assembly Governmental Organization (GO) Committee has unanimously passed the SB 819 bill to ban powdered alcohol.

The bill is authored by Senator Bob Huff and co-authored by assembly member Jacquie Irwin.

The bill passed unopposed through the Senate and will ban possession, purchase, sale, offer for sale, distribution, manufacture, or use of powdered alcohol in the US state. Violation of the ban will be punishable with a fine.

"Permitting the sale of powdered alcohol in California sends the wrong message to youth and young adults about responsible drinking."

Senator Huff said: "Permitting the sale of powdered alcohol in California sends the wrong message to youth and young adults about responsible drinking.

"Although labelling for this product has already been approved on the federal level, it’s now incumbent on each state to decide if this product should be sold in local neighborhood stores. We need to stop this product before it reaches the market."

Alcohol Justice executive director and CEO Bruce Lee Livingston said: "When this bill is passed by the entire legislature and signed by Governor Brown, California will wisely join 32 other states which have already banned the product to protect the health and safety of our young people."

An identical bill, AB 1554, authored by assembly member Irwin and co-authored by Senator Huff, has been passed by the assembly and will be placed and discussed before the Senate GO Committee next week.