MP wants shops to keep meths, glue from druggies

Mark Blumsky

National Party MP Mark Blumsky plans to introduce a voluntary code for retailers to stop the sale of intoxicants and volatile substances - such as methylated spirits and glue - to drug abusers.

The idea has support from the minister in charge of drug strategy, Jim Anderton, and will be considered by the ministerial committee on drug policy in June. Mr Blumsky said he had the support of the Retailers Association and was trying to raise $30,000 to print the code and distribute it to shops.

The former Wellington mayor said the code was modelled on ones introduced in Australia.

It would cover the sale of products such as methylated spirits, aerosols, solvents, glues and gases.

Retailers would be given advice on products that could be misused, on how to display and sell them in a way that was less attractive to substance abusers, and on how to identify substance abusers so products were not sold to them.

In the past Mr Blumsky has spoken out about the behaviour of drunks in inner Wellington and has advocated toughening the existing liquor ban.

But he said police had told him that the ban was being enforced, and the problem was not the consumption of alcohol but of meths and solvents not covered by the liquor ban.

After researching the issue and seeing the successful implementation of codes in Australia, Mr Blumsky decided to pursue a non-legislative approach first.

"I realise that the code is only a first step in addressing a complicated problem. Though it should help to reduce the easy availability of these products, we will also need to address demand, enforcement and treatment issues. I am committed to that."