New York law went into effect last year but enforcement has just begun recently at some Capital Region stores
Be prepared to show your ID at the grocery checkout if you want to buy whipped cream in a canister.
In New York, the popular dessert topping has joined alcohol and tobacco products on the list of items age-restricted for purchase to those 21 and older, and proof of age is now required at the point of sale.
The chargers that propel whipped cream through a canister nozzle are filled with nitrous oxide gas, which can be inhaled to produce a high. The inhalant has long been a popular recreational drug – called “whippets” – among teenagers due to the availability of whipped cream canisters at grocery and convenience stores.
Because of this, the state prohibited the sale of whipped cream chargers to those under the age of 21 last November. The chargers themselves can be purchased for use in refillable whipped cream dispensers, but most people likely will notice enforcement of the law when they buy whipped cream packaged in a canister.
The legislation was passed after being sponsored by Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) who emphasized the dangers of recreational use of nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” after seeing the effect of the inhalant in neighborhoods throughout his district.
“Sadly, young people buy and inhale this gas to get ‘high’ because they mistakenly believe it is a ‘safe’ substance. This law will eliminate easy access to this dangerous substance for our youth,” Addabbo said in a provided statement.
While the bill was signed into effect almost a year ago, signs stating the restriction and I.D. checks have only recently popped up in the Capital Region. The lag is likely due to an issue with the tracking of the law, according to Kent Sopris, president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores.
Continued…
Approved ~ MJM
