Justice minister Amy Adams rejects call for alcohol sachet ban

Alcohol sachets, which can be bought for just $1.50 each, have been found scattered around Eden Park after big games. Photo / Supplied

Calls for a ban on alcohol sachets have been rejected by Justice Minister Amy Adams.

An Eden Park group had urged the minister to ban the palm-sized alcohol sachets, saying they're regularly found scattered around the stadium grounds after big games.

The Eden Park Community Liaison Group said it was worried the packets could be easily smuggled into events with booze restrictions, and wrote to the Minister asking her to ban the products.

In a letter to the group, Ms Adams said she had been advised that "sachets cannot be banned at this time".

Officials told her "that while the smuggling of alcohol into events is a concern, it appears to be outside the scope of power in s 400 [of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012] to ban these sachets", she said.

Banning the products was "arguably unnecessary", she said, as they did not appear to be widely available, or being manufactured anymore.

"I will continue to monitor the sales of the sachets, and reconsider the need for action if necessary," Ms Adams said.

Auckland councillor Cathy Casey, who represents the group, said it was "extremely disappointing".

"It is particularly concerning that Minister Adams considers it 'unnecessary' to ban alcohol sachets because the problem is not wide-spread enough. So do we just wait until the situation worsens?"

Eden Park has raised legitimate concerns about concealed alcohol being smuggled into the ground.

Their events licence is dependent on their ability to control alcohol consumption. Concealment means greater risk of in-ground intoxication.

"Concealed alcohol products were a "huge threat" to the hospitality industry, she said, and "completely undermine the stringent controls put in place by licensees".

Alcohol sachets came onto the New Zealand market in 2013.

The packets of flavoured alcohol, branded as 'Cheeky' and 'Sneaky', contain 20 per cent alcohol and are designed to fit into the palm of your hand, pocket or wallet.

In its letter to the Minister, the liaison group said: "Worryingly, they are promoted as condom-like sachet drinks to carry all the time and consume in any scenario, even fishing!"

It continued: "These products reduce ability to control alcohol consumption at public events and particularly put young people at risk of harmful levels of intoxication and alcohol related violence.

Cheeky has previously defended the products, which it said were primarily designed for "pragmatic application", such as adding to soft drinks, and not for "sneaking into licensed premises or for sinister means, such as drink-spiking".