BAN ON BRITISH MAGAZINE URGED OVER DRUGS ARTICLE

The Government has been urged to ban an edition of a British magazine which
gives details on drugs in 20 countries, amid claims it makes a mockery of
the Government's IEP30 million drugs-awareness programme.

SKY magazine offers readers a guide to drugs across three continents,
outlining "the house speciality" in each country as well as explaining the
local slang for drugs such as cannabis, acid and ecstasy.

The Irish Director of the European Cities Against Drugs, Cork-based
councillor, Mr Con O'Leary, said allowing the magazine to remain on sale
here made a mockery of the Government's drugs-awareness programme for
teenagers.

"The Government is spending IEP30 million on a drugs-awareness programme for
kids through the Drugs Task Force and here this magazine is telling our kids
how to get drugs on their holidays - it makes a laughing stock of our drugs
programme," he said.

Mr O'Leary described the article as "an irresponsible drugs guide" and
expressed surprise that there had not been a greater reaction to it by the
authorities.

He said he would raise the matter when the DE1il resumes. A spokesperson
for the magazine yesterday defended the article and denied it was
irresponsible. "SKY doesn't endorse a way of life, it just describes one,"
said the spokesperson. "Our readers are over 18 and independent and we
present them with interesting information each month. The article has
additional information offering a drug helpline, so to say we are
irresponsible is misplaced."

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst