PARTY-PILL SELLERS NOT UP ON LAW

Police were shocked to learn many Queenstown retailers facing charges
over the sale of herbal party pills to an underage schoolboy during a
police sting were unaware their actions were illegal.

Seven people representing four businesses faced charges for allegedly
selling pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) after the week-long
sting, called Operation Party, Sergeant Callum McNeill said.

They each face a maximum penalty of a $2000 fine. The businesses
included backpackers, a party pill supply shop and a dairy. Nine shops
were targeted.

Liquor outlets and bars generally asked for identification, and some
retailers sold party pills that did not contain BZP and therefore did
not come under the Misuse of Drugs Act legislation. Shop assistants
selling those products were warned.

McNeill said the results were much as expected, but police were amazed
that some shop assistants did not know there was a legal age
restriction. "Some people we spoke to had no idea it was illegal to
sell them, even though it says so on the packages."

Some were travellers who had not had any training before selling the
pills. Unlike under the Sale of Liquor Act, managers could not be
prosecuted under the legislation in its current form.

Play It Again record store general manager Kenny Frisby said he had
not been made aware of the law, but the company had a policy of
selling only to 18-year-olds and older, following the lead of the
Social Tonics Association of New Zealand (Stanz).

The business was visited a couple of times during the sting and got a
warning after selling pills that did not contain BZP to the high
school student.

"We are quite vigilant anyway, but I talked to all staff this morning
and said to ID people who looked under 25," Frisby said.

Stanz chairman Matt Bowden welcomed the police operation but was
disappointed some retailers did not know the law.

"That's very poor to see retailers with such a lack of understanding
about the product they're selling," he said.

"Maybe we need to have a much clearer look at the sorts of places
selling these things. Any person between the customer and pill needs
to have a fair amount of knowledge about what they're selling."

Another retailer, who did not want to be identified, said the
legislation was enacted only last year and not everybody was clear
about it.

"I don't think the information was put out to the industry very well.
It's a bit unfortunate they (police) didn't go around these places
first and tell them what the rule is," the retailer said.

McNeill said a similar but smaller operation had been run in Oamaru
this year, but he was not aware of any other stings in New Zealand.

"We are concerned that there are a lot of young folk, especially in
Queenstown, getting high on these things, combining them with alcohol
and doing some pretty stupid things. So we're prosecuting some,
warning others and letting them know we'll be looking out in future,"
he said.

Police wanted to see everyone aged under 25 asked for identification
when buying party pills.