Shop owners claim unfair treatment
The Alternative Traders of Ireland Association is made of a group of genuine business owners, many of whom have had shops open for many years without any problems.
The association maintains members’ constitutional rights are being infringed by the way the Government is dealing with the ongoing controversy over their trade.
It also claims that gardaí in certain areas are acting in a manner “which could be considered intimidating” to staff and customers by taking the names and addresses of staff without reason and maintaining a visual presence outside some premises.
Head shops have been the subject of much debate in recent months as they sell legal synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of real drugs.
The number of these shops has mushroomed and the illegal drugs industry has been suffering due to their proliferation.
The shops have been targeted, in some cases in the form of protests by parents and residents and in others by dissident republicans or disgruntled drug dealers.
Concerned members founded the association last month in a bid to liaise with Government, the media and other concerned bodies in relation to the controversy surrounding the head shop industry.
However, it says any requests made for direct communication with the Government have been refused, and that its rights are not being taken into consideration.
The association maintains it has a right to have its opinions and queries addressed before any measures are implemented.
The association said the Government is doing everything it in its power to close down the industry, but has have never spoken to anyone actually operating within the industry.
“If the Government would liaise with us in an open and honest manner, we could provide them with detailed information regarding the products, possible side effects and ingredients — as things stand, no one seems willing to speak to us,” said the association.
“In the UK the health service has lost a number of senior advisers due to the Government’s unwillingness to listen to their educated opinion.”
The association has agreed a voluntary code of conduct, which aims to address a number of long-standing concerns raised in the media and also of concern to the association members. These include a strict proof of age policy, a ban on any customers wearing school uniforms — regardless of proof of age — and a refusal to sell products to any person who appears to be intoxicated.
* The association is holding two rallies to defend its rights. They will take place at 2pm on May 1, one in Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance and the other at Peace Park in Cork.
THE Alternative Traders of Ireland Association was set up in response to the growing media frenzy surrounding head shops.
The hope was that the association could deal directly with Government officials to address the concerns raised and discuss regulation of the industry.
However, requests made for direct communication have been refused — apparently Pat Carey’s diary is too full to meet with us — and a similar request to Dermot Ahern has gone unanswered.
The association has made it clear in emails sent to both ministers that we believe the proposed ban on substances and other legislative measures is short sighted and goes against our constitutional rights. We have a right to have our opinions and queries addressed before any such measures are implemented.
Members of the public who believe the Government should be allowed to behave in this manner without question should bear in mind that it could be their constitutional rights that are being overridden next.
How did they feel when the Government decided to use their taxes to bail out the banks? Don’t people feel their opinions should be heard before the Government rides roughshod over them?
This is not just about whether or not head shops should be banned, it is about the whole situation being dealt with in a fair and just manner. Under the Constitution, matters such as this are meant to be dealt with on an unbiased basis — every statement made by the ministers goes against this; they state that they will do everything they can to close down our industry but they have never spoken to anyone actually operating within the industry. How is this unbiased?
Aside from the lack of communication with Government, the association feels that some of the media bear a responsibility for the recent attacks on premises and threats to staff.
The media has generated a “free for all” as far as our industry goes and while the Garda investigate these attacks, the perception is that we somehow deserve to have our business burnt down — despite the fact that we are not doing anything illegal.
Some people may have an adverse reaction to some of our products, just as they may experience adverse effects from alcohol, tobacco, nuts or household cleaners. People should remember that the number of people suffering adverse effects from our products are minimal, especially compared to the corresponding figures for alcohol, tobacco or illegal drug use. The adverse effects of tobacco are so well known at this point that cigarette packets state “smoking kills” but no one is suggesting a complete ban on tobacco.
The people carrying out these attacks might like to consider the fact that they are acting illegally, while we are legal and also that they are, in some cases, endangering lives of people who have nothing to do with us.
The shop in Dundalk, recently petrol bombed, was next door to an elderly woman, whose property could easily have caught fire.
Our industry pays millions of euro each year to the Government in taxes. Rather than banning head shops, it would be better to use some of this revenue to pay for under-funded services. It should also consider that if substances are banned, it will increase business for the illegal drug trade.
It has also been reported that staff within the HSE are asking Government for guidance on how to deal with problems relating to legal highs. If the Government would liaise with us in an open and honest manner, we could provide them with detailed information regarding the products, possible side-effects and ingredients — but as things stand, no one seems willing to speak to us.
* Helen Stone represents the newly formed Alternative Traders of Ireland Association
