Angus shop keeps licence after woman dies.

COUNCIL: No action against off-licence that sold odouriser which 51-year-old later drank

Calls have been made for stricter laws around the sale of “popper” sexual stimulants following the death of an Angus woman.

The XL Gold product, marketed as a room odouriser, cleaning product and sexual enhancement liquid, was sold legally and marked as “not for human consumption”.

But Adele Parker, 51, from Arbroath, died in May after drinking a bottle bought from Party Time off-licence in the town. XL Gold contains isopropyl nitrate, an ingredient found in poppers, a liquid drug which gives an instant high when inhaled.

Police had asked Angus Council’s licensing board to review the premises licence for Party Time and the personal licence of owner Mohammed Naseem, claiming bottles of XL Gold had been displayed beside alcohol and the man who bought two bottles, one of which was given to Ms Parker, had asked for shots.

But at an online board meeting yesterday, solicitor Janet Hood said Mr Naseem had no control over how the product was used after it was sold.

“My client did sell the item but he could have had no idea whatsoever what the purchaser intended to do.

“This was a tragic accident which occurred in a private house.

“He couldn’t have guessed what was in the purchaser’s mind. He was not selling the product as alcohol and the product is clearly marked.”

Ms Hood acknowledged that the product is sometimes inhaled as poppers but said that was not how it was advertised at Party Time.

“There is an illegal method for taking this, I believe it is called poppers. The product is legal, the fact there are illegal mechanisms for using the product has nothing to do with this inquiry.”

Councillors unanimously agreed not to review the licences, deciding it was not a breach of licensing law.

But Arbroath SNP councillor Alex King questioned the morals of selling the product and called for stricter laws.

He said: “The product is legal. I see them referred to as cleaning products or room odourisers but mainly as sexual stimulants. It’s not something that should be sold anywhere other than a chemist. The licence holder needs to have a long hard think about what he is selling and how he is selling it.

“It reminds me of the days when kids used to sniff glue. I believe measures were brought in to control the sale of glue.

“It’s about time someone in government had a good, hard look at this and put severe restrictions on it.”

A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Picture: Paul Reid. Adele Parker died after drinking a bottle of XL Gold bought from the Party Time offlicence in Arbroath.