Media Statement

24 July 2007

Authority decision confirms anti-party pill decision

The decision by the Liquor Licensing Authority to issue a licence subject to an undertaking not to sell or supply party pills concurrent to alcohol at a liquor store in Manurewa is a major victory for local residents. Objectors Daniel Newman and Angela Dalton have welcomed the publication (see attached) of the decision by the Authority.

“The suppliers of party pills have been put on notice. The Authority has endorsed the arguments put forward by the community. There is mounting evidence, which suggests that the consumption of party pills is detrimental to people’s health and well-being. There is a very real risk that party pills consumed with alcohol can make people very ill. The causal link between the consumption of party pills and death has not been discounted,” Daniel Newman and Angela Dalton said.

During the Authority hearing, which was triggered by the objection lodged by Mr Newman and Mrs Dalton, the licence applicants were advised that there was a real chance that the application would not be granted. The directors of Roscommon Liquor Ltd then signed an undertaking before the Authority, which reads:

“We the applicant and directors of Roscommon Liquor Limited trading as Roscommon Liquor hereby undertake to remove all products that can be referred to as party pills before our licence is granted by the Liquor Licensing Authority. We also undertake that there will be no sale or supply of these products while the licence is in force and understand that any breach of this undertaking will result in applications being filed with the Liquor Licensing Authority for the cancellation of the company’s licence and will make us unsuitable as managers or directors of the company.”

Daniel Newman and Angela Dalton are delighted that the Authority has come down on the side of the community.

“We predict our objection and the decision by the Authority in relation to Roscommon Liquor will set a national precedent, which will force other liquor retailers to consider the wisdom and appropriateness of selling or supplying party pills. The residents of Manurewa and Clendon have successfully taken a stand and in so doing have laid the groundwork for challenges elsewhere. We expect the local government sector and the police to support the community in opposing these dangerous and restricted products.

“This decision is a real victory for the people,” Daniel Newman and Angela Dalton said.

ENDS

A copy of the oral arguments presented by Daniel Newman and Angela Dalton is attached. A copy of the Liquor Licensing Authority’s decision is also attached.

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Submission_to_the_LLA.pdf

LLA_decision_regarding_Roscommon_Liquor.pdf

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