Dairies and convenience stores need to pull nangs from the shelves, the retailers' association says.
By Lauren Crimp of RNZ
Police have been warning that problems around the huffing of nitrous oxide products – known as "nangs" – have escalated to people "playing chicken" and seeing whether they can drive without blacking out after inhaling the gas.
They are reminding retailers it is illegal to sell nangs for recreational use.
But an RNZ investigation has revealed it is easy to purchase nangs in large quantities from dairies, vape stores and convenience stores with virtually no checks.
Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young said she would only expect them to be sold by wholesalers, to supply hospitality customers for whipping cream.
"If it's a convenience store or a small corner store, that's actually not your marketplace, that's not where they're going to be bought for legitimate use," she said.
"It needs to be for commercial use only and, if you're selling it to an individual, especially if you're selling multiple sales to one individual, you need to be stopping and questioning what they're asking to buy it for, and whether or not you should be selling that... should we be stocking this product in our store at all?"
Young said retail crime was a concern, especially for retailers who refuse to sell nangs to anyone they thought was buying it to get high.
She suggested retailers could say they do not have any stock – or ensure their stock was hidden.
"Certainly, taking off the shelves is the first starting point to make sure that you're safe and your store is safe from being attacked by, potentially young people that are really focusing on getting high."
Retail NZ had sent guidance to members outlining their responsibilities, Young said.
Police said they were taking a "graduated response" to their growing concerns around the supply of nangs, by focusing on "engagement, education and encouragement".
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