News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: Under-18s Sold 'Herbal Smoking Products' |
| Title: | New Zealand: Under-18s Sold 'Herbal Smoking Products' |
| Published On: | 2010-10-29 |
| Source: | Southland Times (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2010-10-30 03:00:46 |
UNDER-18S SOLD 'HERBAL SMOKING PRODUCTS'
A 17-year-old was able to buy R18 "herbal smoking products" at two
Invercargill stores yesterday.
The herbal smoking products came under the spotlight yesterday as
parents voiced their concerns their under-aged children were buying
the products from stores in Invercargill.
Southern Institute of Technology journalism students went out on the
streets of Invercargill to see how easy it was for a 17-year-old
student to buy the herbal smoking products such as Kronic and Rastas
Ganja.
Four stores around the city which were thought to sell the product
Kronic were approached by the student.
The student was able to complete a purchase of a 1.25gm pouch of
Kronic from the Night 'n Day Foodstore on Dee St, in Gladstone, and a
2gm pouch of Rastas Ganja from Pillz & Thrillz on Dee St.
Night 'n Day Foodstore Tay St told the student Kronic was no longer
available in the store and Night 'n Day Foodstore Esk St asked for
identification.
Retailers can be fined $2000 if caught selling herbal smoking products
to under-18s.
Pillz and Thrillz manager Royce Trounson said he "did not usually"
sell to under-18s.
However, the student was not asked for identification and Mr Trounson
recommended something stronger than what was asked for.
The Rastas Ganja packet which was recommended to the student cost $20
and had "R-18" written on it in two places while there was a sign in
the shop saying "No ID, No sale".
Mr Trounson said he sold the product to the student because he
expected under-18s to be in school uniform. "You don't expect
17-year-olds to be walking around on a Thursday in mufti."
He said the policy that restricted the sale to under-18s was a "fair
enough" policy and he was feeling "fairly foolish" for selling to a
17-year-old. A staff member at Night 'n Day Foodstore on Dee St
declined to comment when asked why a 17-year-old was able to buy
Kronic at the store.
A spokesman for Rastas Ganja said the company's policy was not to sell
its products to under-18-year-olds. "All of our products clearly have
R18 written on them."
He did not know what would happen to retailers who sold to under-18s.
"They'll get done, I hope."
A 17-year-old was able to buy R18 "herbal smoking products" at two
Invercargill stores yesterday.
The herbal smoking products came under the spotlight yesterday as
parents voiced their concerns their under-aged children were buying
the products from stores in Invercargill.
Southern Institute of Technology journalism students went out on the
streets of Invercargill to see how easy it was for a 17-year-old
student to buy the herbal smoking products such as Kronic and Rastas
Ganja.
Four stores around the city which were thought to sell the product
Kronic were approached by the student.
The student was able to complete a purchase of a 1.25gm pouch of
Kronic from the Night 'n Day Foodstore on Dee St, in Gladstone, and a
2gm pouch of Rastas Ganja from Pillz & Thrillz on Dee St.
Night 'n Day Foodstore Tay St told the student Kronic was no longer
available in the store and Night 'n Day Foodstore Esk St asked for
identification.
Retailers can be fined $2000 if caught selling herbal smoking products
to under-18s.
Pillz and Thrillz manager Royce Trounson said he "did not usually"
sell to under-18s.
However, the student was not asked for identification and Mr Trounson
recommended something stronger than what was asked for.
The Rastas Ganja packet which was recommended to the student cost $20
and had "R-18" written on it in two places while there was a sign in
the shop saying "No ID, No sale".
Mr Trounson said he sold the product to the student because he
expected under-18s to be in school uniform. "You don't expect
17-year-olds to be walking around on a Thursday in mufti."
He said the policy that restricted the sale to under-18s was a "fair
enough" policy and he was feeling "fairly foolish" for selling to a
17-year-old. A staff member at Night 'n Day Foodstore on Dee St
declined to comment when asked why a 17-year-old was able to buy
Kronic at the store.
A spokesman for Rastas Ganja said the company's policy was not to sell
its products to under-18-year-olds. "All of our products clearly have
R18 written on them."
He did not know what would happen to retailers who sold to under-18s.
"They'll get done, I hope."
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