30% OFF site-wide + Free Premium from €50
Are poppers legal?
Originally created to cure people from anginas or heart diseases, poppers were diverted from their use for the recreational high effects that they give. These liquid products soon become a hit in nightclubs during the seventies and their consumption increased among the gay community (especially for sex between men). To know more about this recreational substance, feel free to read our page entitled what are poppers?
Are poppers legal in the US?
Some types, like amyl nitrite, can be legally prescribed for medical purposes, such as treating heart conditions, or other health risks. However, liquid poppers sold for recreational use, are not approved by the FDA. This is why poppers are often sold in stores labeled as "leather cleaners" or "room deodorizers," though people still recreationally use them.
Are poppers legal in the UK?
In the UK, amyl, pentyl and isopropyl nitrite-based poppers are legal for sale and use. They are not classified as controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This means that selling and using them is legal, as long as they are not marketed as drugs for human consumption.
In 2016, the UK government initially considered banning poppers under the Psychoactive Substances Act, which restricts the sale of substances that have mind-altering effects (like alcohol or drugs). However, poppers were exempted from this law after it was determined they did not have a significant psychoactive effect.
Are poppers legal in Australia?
In Australia, the legality of poppers depends on the specific type of alkyl nitrite.
As of 2020, amyl nitrite is classified as a Schedule 3 substance under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). This means it can be legally purchased, but only with a prescription from a pharmacist. It's the only form of poppers that is legally available in Australia for medical use.
Other types of alkyl nitrites (like isobutyl nitrite and butyl nitrite) are classified as Schedule 9 substances, meaning they are prohibited and illegal to possess, sell, or use for recreational purposes.
The current legislation in Europe
Poppers liquid products are now legal in Europe, which has not always been so. Nowadays, their production, sale and consumption are legal. However, one nitrite is banned in France and across the EU: isobutyl nitrite.
You can then carry, buy, and inhale recreational poppers (amyl nitrite, isopropyl nitrite, pentyl nitrite or nitrite mixes) except isobutyl nitrites in Europe.
Are poppers legal in France?
In the 1990s, the French government banned pentyl and butyl nitrites. French retailers were then selling amyl nitrite substances and isopropyl nitrite and also mixes of alkyl nitrites.
In November 2007, French Prime Minister François Fillon banned any type of production and retailing in France. The French government implemented a ban on the sale of products containing alkyl nitrites, including poppers substance. This decision was rooted in public health concerns and aimed to reduce the risks associated with the effects of poppers. However, this ban was met with resistance and challenges from various groups, including vendors and consumers who argued that the health risks were not high when used responsibly and that the ban infringed on people's freedoms. So it was not legal to sell poppers products that didn't have marketing authorization.
This decree was later canceled by the French State Council.
In June 2011, the president of the French Interministerial Commission on Drugs and Addictions - Etienne Apaire - released a report stating that poppers would be prohibited and non-legal. This decree was soon implemented since - on 7 July 2011- alkyl nitrites were banned from retailing, making this product considered a drug.
This decision was then overruled by the state council on June 2013 and poppers became legal in France except for butyl poppers and across Europe.
Why were poppers banned?
Several reasons seem to account for these temporary bans. The likeliest seems to be that health authorities feared that high side effects might appear. But there's no physical addiction to this sort of liquid product, unlike alcohol or drugs. Besides no survey has ever revealed that the nitrites of poppers were not safe (except for the effects of butyl nitrites).
How old do you have to be to buy poppers?
Poppers can not be sold to minors. In practice, sellers must impose an age limit of 18 years or over to avoid legal risks and ensure that they are not selling to minors, whether the substance is isopropyl or amyl. Many retailers selling poppers, such as sex shops, require buyers to be 18 or over anyway.
In the United States, poppers are typically only sold to adults over the age of 18 or 21, depending on local laws.
In the United Kingdom, poppers are legal for people over 18.
Where can you find legal poppers?
People can buy poppers in various places. They are commonly available in adult stores, sex shops, and smoke shops, typically marketed as non-consumable items such as "room deodorizers" or "leather cleaners." These products are often purchased for personal use despite their intended labeling. Additionally, online retailers offer poppers, sometimes under discreet names to comply with regulations, making them accessible for delivery in many regions. Although poppers are legal to possess and sell in certain forms, their intended use as inhalants is typically not promoted directly.
To know more about poppers
If you wish to have further information, do not hesitate to read our pages entitled: