[DannyBoy]

A Southland cop is calling for a nationwide ban on the spirit absinthe after a teenager nearly died from drinking it.

Sergeant John Harris said yesterday absinthe had the highest alcohol by volume content for a spirit sold in this country.

New Zealand already had enough of an alcohol problem without having something as strong as absinthe for sale to anyone over the age of 18 years, he told The Southland Times,

He said he would like to see the drink banned everywhere and applauded Southland's two licensing trusts for pulling the potent spirit off their shelves.

Absinthe ranges in strength from 69 to 89.9 per cent alcohol content, with a few shots of the latter almost killing Gore teenager Marc Hansen four weeks ago.

The 17-year-old stopped breathing three times before being put on life support at Southland Hospital.

What really pisses me off is the way these guys promoting absinthe have reacted....by calling Marc Hansen a "f@@@ing dumbass".....

wormwoodsociety.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4197

[DannyBoy]

New Zealand Absinthe Ban - 'Another Hysterical Over Reaction' Comments UK Exporter

Last update: 3:44 p.m. EDT Sept. 8, 2008
LONDON, September 8, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/

-A leading UK wine exporter today criticised moves in New Zealand to nationally ban the sale of absinthe following the near death of Marc Hansen, a NZ teenager who had drunk at least 5 straight shots of the highly alcoholic spirit and several beers. The lad himself acknowledged his responsibility for his decision to drink Absinthe to excess!

Dale Sklar, Managing Director of Wine and Spirit International, says: "Any such incident is obviously regrettable but there is probably no drink in the world with more warnings and instructions on how to drink it responsibly than on the Hapsburg absinthe bottle. Our brand Hapsburg for example says on the front label and the rear label in capital letters:

HANDLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION...HIGH STRENGTH ALCOHOL. KEEP COOL AND AWAY FROM HEAT, FLAMES AND CHILDREN, DANGER DO NOT DRINK NEAT. ADD WATER/MIXER TO TASTE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRINK TO EXCESS. KEEP ALCOHOL AWAY FROM CHILDREN.DO NOT CONSUME IF PREGNANT OR ON MEDICATION. HAPSBURG IS VERY STRONG. DO NOT DRINK NEAT. DILUTE WITH WATER OR MIXER TO TASTE. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. i.e. producer's due diligence."

Sklar comments, "The local police and licensing authorities seem to have over reacted, as any spirit drunk irresponsibly can lead to accidents."

$$$$$$........

[kall]

Wow.

Just... wow.

Question: Who served the absinthe to him? Was the bottle nearby?