I purchased my 25ml sachets for $1.50 each in a central city liquor store. They were easily the cheapest single drink on sale. The store had three varieties of Cheeky: Apple Sours, Vanilla Vodka and Bourbon and Cola. The packet says the sachet contains "approx. 0.4 standard drinks". There is also a warning: "This product must not be sold to persons under 18 years old." I bought three of each. No eyebrows were raised or questions asked.
The small flexible sachet packaging means that these products can be easily concealed on the person and smuggled into events where there are restricted licence rules for safety reasons such as rugby matches and concerts.
This runs the risk of increased drunkenness which can lead to uncontrollable crowd behaviour. Eden Park staff have found numerous empty sachets after big games.
Smuggled alcohol reduces the ability of event organisers to control alcohol consumption at public events and puts people at greater risk of harmful levels of intoxication and alcohol related violence.
As their names suggest, the sachets are designed for one purpose, and that is to be concealed or hidden from view. The obvious intent when purchasing these concentrated alcohol products is to elude detection at entry to events or bars.
Under the new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, stringent controls are imposed upon licence holders. The consequences of failing to manage intoxication at licensed premises are onerous, including the risk of licence suspension.
The majority of proprietors and event organisers are responsible and have put in place a range of security controls for complying with their moral and legal responsibilities. That products are being marketed specifically to undermine such efforts is extremely concerning.
A powdered alcohol product branded as "Palcohol" has just been approved by a federal agency in the United States. There is great concern that it could also become available in New Zealand in the near future.
As well as all the risks and dangers associated with alcohol sachets, the powder form also means that it can be snorted, which could cause faster intoxication. The powder could be easily added to someone's drink without them knowing, making people more vulnerable to having their drink spiked in a bar. It is also possible that other intoxicating substances could be mixed in with the powder.
Finally, another issue requiring urgent attention is the availability of imported concealment products which can disguise alcohol, such as fake tampons, binoculars and bra padding. Like alcohol sachets, concealment products and devices also circumvent normally effective controls put in place by responsible proprietors and create greater risk of drunkenness at major events.
The Eden Park Community Liaison Group is concerned enough about the new products that it has written to the Minister of Justice asking her to intervene and ban the importation of alcohol sachets, alcohol powder and concealment devices. The CLG is also calling for more vigilance by Government on future overseas alcohol concealment developments so that we can stop problems before they arrive in New Zealand.
Dr Cathy Casey is an Auckland councillor for Albert-Eden Roskill and a member of the Eden Park Community Liaison Group.
