STANZ On Manurewa Liquor Store

STANZ on Manurewa liquor store

The Liquor Licensing Authority is overstepping its powers by seeking to deny liquor licences to people selling party pills, says the Social Tonics Association of New Zealand.

"It should be kept in mind that the sale of party pills is still legal. The Government is planning legislation to ban BZP and related products, but the Bill has not even been introduced to the House yet and still has to go through the select committee process," said STANZ Chair Matt Bowden.

"In the meantime, the Authority should not be trying to ban sales but instead should ensure that licence-holders act responsibly by warning customers that pills should not be consumed with alcohol.

"The best way to achieve this is by using the voluntary code of practice developed by STANZ," Mr Bowden said.

"STANZ position is that the best and safest option available to the Government is not banning BZP but more tightly regulating its use.

"STANZ has developed a comprehensive set of regulations and will continue to promote these to the public and to the Government because nowhere in the world has prohibition worked and there is a very real danger that alcohol abuse and use of hard drugs will increase if party pills are no longer legally available," Matt Bowden said.

ENDS

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