The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Woman died after drinking bottle of ‘sexual stimulant’
ARBROATH: Shop fights for licence after denying blame
A woman died after drinking a bottle of liquid “sexual stimulant” in Arbroath.
The female, who has not been named, drank a full bottle of XL Gold, which contains a liquid found in poppers, giving an instant high when inhaled.
The product is marketed as a room odouriser, cleaning product and sexual enhancement liquid.
A police report said the woman died after drinking the substance, purchased legally from the Party Time off-licence in the town, on May 6. Angus Council is to review the shop’s licence on Thursday.
Licensing law specialist Janet Hood, representing licence holder Mohammed
Naseem, said: “Obviously my client is extremely upset that the woman died but the product is legal and was sold legally.
“It is terribly unfortunate but the product is clearly marked as not being for human consumption and in my opinion a shop cannot be held responsible for decisions someone chooses to make at home.”
A woman died after drinking a bottle of liquid “sexual stimulant” bought from an Angus shop.
The XL Gold product, marketed as a room odouriser, cleaning product and sexual enhancement liquid, was sold legally for £3.99 and marked as “not for human consumption”.
But a police report revealed a woman died in May after drinking a bottle of it purchased from Party Time off-licence in Arbroath.
XL Gold contains isopropyl nitrate, an ingredient found in poppers, a liquid drug which gives an instant high when inhaled.
Police have said a woman, who has not been named, died on May 6 after drinking a full bottle of the substance.
Officers have now asked Angus Council to review the shop’s premises licence.
A police review application to go before the council’s licensing board on Thursday said: “A male customer bought two bottles of XL Gold from the premises.
“He took them home and gave one to a female, who drank the whole bottle and subsequently fell ill and passed away that same day.
“A police inquiry concluded that ‘XL gold’ is not for human consumption. The product is chiefly either a room odouriser or cleaning product.
“As it contains isopropyl nitrite, which is commonly referred to as ‘poppers’, some people use it to inhale to get a ‘quick high’.”
A licensing officer visited the shop on July 3 and interviewed licence holder Mohammed Naseem.
The officer’s report said Mr Naseem had been stocking the product for at least a year and “understood that the point of the product was for the smell”.
At the time of the visit it was displayed on the counter among miniature bottles of alcohol but Mr Naseem said it was normally kept behind the counter.
The report added: “I asked if it is possible that this product has ever been sold as or advertised as alcohol.
“He said that it is not the case, and it has always been clear that it is not alcohol. He told me, however, he does accept that the box being on the counter instead of being packed away as it normally was, may have caused confusion on the day in question.
“He also told me that the bottle has clear indications on it that it should not be consumed, with prominent skull and crossbones on the bottle, as well as a clear danger message and the actions that should be carried out if the product is consumed.”
XL Gold is marketed online as to be “used to enhance sexual pleasure for men and women” and as “room aroma odourisers”.
Licensing law specialist Janet Hood, representing Mr Naseem, said she could not discuss details of the case before the board meeting.
She added: “Obviously my client is extremely upset that the woman died but the product is legal and was sold legally.
“It is terribly unfortunate but the product is clearly marked as not being for human consumption and in my opinion a shop cannot be held responsible for decisions someone chooses to make at home.
“There are a number of household products from bleach to shampoo that are sold legally but should not be drunk,” she continued.
“It is a terrible tragedy.”