23 Dec 2013

Cheeky sachets

8:47 am on 23 December 2013

A high school principal says new concealable alcohol sachets will be a nightmare for preventing excessive drinking at school balls.

The $2 packets of flavoured vodka have been condemned by the police and a health advocacy group.

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Photo: Unknown

The sachets, sold under the brand name Cheeky, each contain the equivalent of 0.4 of a standard drink or two-fifths the amount of alcohol as in a can of beer.

Patrick Walsh, principal of John Paul College in Rotorua, says the small packets are much harder to detect than a hip flask. He says pre-loading is a major issue and the sachets add a whole new dimension to the problem. 

The company which makes the sachets says it understands the concerns of its critics but points out the products are relatively low strength and are in small servings.