We’ve seen all sorts of weird bans in the past, with lawmakers choosing to restrict things in the name of public safety .
The latest ban to hit the headlines is one we haven’t heard before: for people in New York, cans of whipped cream and containers of alcohol now operate under the same rules: namely, a person must be 21 or older in order to purchase one.
It may sound silly, but there’s a good reason for the new law.
Want a can of whipped cream? You’ll need to show ID.
According to NBC New York , stores in Albany — the state capital — are already requiring customers to show identification if they want to buy a can of whipped cream.
The law went into effect late last year.
Signed into law in November of 2021, it is now illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy a can of whipped cream. Buying whipping cream by the carton is fine, but cans are restricted.
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The law actually makes sense.
While whipped cream itself might be the most benign substance anyone can imagine, the law isn’t in place because of the dangers of whipped cream itself. As you may have already guessed, this has everything to do with whippets.
What’s a whippet?
Whipped cream cans, and other more reusable devices — like the whipped cream dispensers at Starbucks — contain a small cartridge of nitrous oxide. A small chemical reaction takes place and turns whipping cream into whipped cream.
These little nitrous cartridges, often known as whipped cream chargers, are at the center of this new law.
Nitrous is a popular recreational inhalant.
According to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) factsheet , inhalants are “invisible, volatile substances found in common household products that produce chemical vapors that are inhaled to induce psychoactive or mind-altering effects.”
Inhalants like whippets can carry serious long-term effects and damage the brain.
Inhalants are commonly abused by young people.
That same DEA factsheet says that about one in five young people have used inhalants by the time they’re in the eighth grade. The accessibility and cost of a can of whipped cream makes them a popular choice for a young person who wants to get high.
The bill was sponsored by State Senator Joseph Addabbo.
Addabbo, who represents the borough of Queens, said he sponsored the legislation “after receiving constituent complaints about empty canisters on neighborhood streets.”
“Used whippets piling up in our communities are not only an eyesore, but also indicative of a significant nitrous oxide abuse problem,” Addabbo continued.
Whippets aren’t safe, end of story.
Addabbo acknowledged that there are many legitimate uses for nitrous oxide, but added, “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.”
What do you think of this law?
There isn’t a lot of opposition to the law because nitrous abuse is, in fact, a problem — particularly with younger people. There’s also the fact that most people who legitimately need whipped cream can still get it.
Let us know what you think of this drama in the comments section.