Police plea for restraint selling whipping cream chargers, which contain laughing gas
Kumeu police are appealing to store owners to be socially responsible after reports of cream whipping devices being sold to youngsters.
A concerned resident alerted officers after she saw a Kumeu dairy owner allegedly selling whipping cream chargers, which contained laughing gas, to school children.
The complainant, the mother of a teenager, was frustrated by the incident, police said.
"The complainant had no doubt that the children were buying the product for inhalation and not for making cakes,"
Kumeu community constable Dimitry Pantileev said.
The charger was displayed at the front of the store by the Eftpos machine, he said.
Selling laughing gas, also known as NOS, nitrous oxide and nangs, for therapeutic purposes is banned under the Medicines Act 1981, which requires a prescription for the sale.
Using a cream dispenser or ‘’cracker’’, a small cannister filled with NOS, known as a cream charger, is released into a balloon, which is then inhaled for a short-lived but intense euphoric-like feeling.
However, the sale of the product within the food industry is legal, with nitrous oxide being used for cream whipping devices.
Under the current law, retailers selling the product must ensure it is not being used for therapeutical purposes, the Ministry of Health states.
Pantileev said shop owners should be socially responsible when it came to selling the chargers to children and should not display them in a prominent place.
".. we can only charge them if we can prove in court without reasonable doubt that the product they're selling is used for inhalation, " Pantileev said.
"It's possible but it's very difficult to prove that the person at the counter or the store owner had the knowledge that it was going to be inhaled."
Pantileev said perhaps it was time for a law change.
"On a broad spectrum, legislators need to look into that," he said.
"The desirable outcome is that the law change is implemented at least to forbid this product to be sold to minors and somehow to limit their display to the public."
A MOH spokeswoman in August said Medsafe had taken action in this area in the past and was currently investigating the issue.
“It is for the retailers to ensure they comply with the law and only supply products that could not be regarded as prescription medicines. Retailers should be aware of the potential for these products to be used for purposes that could constitute a therapeutic purpose. Having a means of ensuring customers had a legitimate purpose for purchasing the products would be wise.”
Are you in favour of whipping cream devices being sold to children?
Why or why not?
Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.
Caution: This Riddle Will Make Your Brain Spin!
How do eight eights add up to one thousand?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
What workplace change would you like to see most?
This coming Monday is Labour Day in New Zealand. This public holiday marks when the eight-hour workday and 48-hour workweek became law in 1899. The idea started with Samuel Parnell, a carpenter in Wellington, who in 1840 refused to work more than eight hours a day. Since skilled workers were in short supply, his employer had to agree.
As more skilled workers arrived, employers tried to change working conditions, but Parnell and others kept pushing for better rights. In 1890, Parnell led a Labour Day parade of 1,500 people to promote the eight-hour day. He passed away shortly after, and nine years later, Labour Day became an official public holiday.
Do you feel that we have reached the ideal in working environments yet? What rights are you passionate about relating to employment? Share your thoughts!
Loading…
