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 £30 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 £30 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 Dail 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."