A new legal high has surfaced in which the Tory Crime Prevention Minister, James Brokenshire, has advised that they will fast-track bans on emerging legal highs.  Since the ban of mephedrone, also known as ‘miaow miaow’, new legal highs are begining to surface and if not careful, could potentially flood the market.  Brokenshire said:  ”We are going to change our drug laws so we can respond quickly to emerging substances by introducing a temporary ban while we seek full scientific advice.”

Alan Johnson, Labour’s last Home Secretary has admitted and apologised for his party’s failure to tackle binge drinking during his tenure.  He said:  ‘I regret not doing more to tackle the problems caused by binge drinking during my period in office. The Government is right to stop alcohol being sold below cost price. It’s something we should have done.’  Labour has been condemned for introducing 24-hour drinking (Tony Blair) and reducing alcohol-related taxes by £200million (Gordon Brown).

Johnson’s successor Theresa May has been commended for plans to prohibit shops from selling alcohol below cost price.

Mr Johnson said: ‘I regret not doing more to tackle the problems caused by binge drinking during my period in office. The Government is right to stop alcohol being sold below cost price. It’s something we should have done.’

A report released this month and commissioned by the government has been released by the Institute of Alcohol Studies, carried out by Sir Peter North, recommending that current prescribed alcohol limits for driving are lowered from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.  This brings the limit in line with most European countries with countries such as Sweden, Poland, Belgium and the Czech Republic who take a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach.  The recommendation however appears to possibly bring those who have had just one drink over the new recommended limit.

The report cites 51 recommendations in which the government has said it would consider.

Safety campaigners and drivers’ groups welcome this report.

See info on blood alcohol testing.

The jury is out.  As the pressure mounts from the public and media, the ACMD provided its report to the Home Secretary last night recommending that mephedrone should be classified as Class B drugs.  Alan Johnson announced they are set to ban mephedrone and other synthetic ‘legal highs’ (as with synthetic cannabinoids) in a matter of weeks whose aim is to prevent manufacturers from producing further similar harmful drugs so they “can be in the forefront of dealing with this whole family of drugs”.

Alan Johnson also announces that he is “seeking cross-party support to swiftly ban these dangerous drugs from [UK] streets”.

The importation of mephedrone and its related products has now been banned with immediate effect. The UK Border Agency have been instructed to seize and destroy shipments of these drugs into the country.  Shops and websites selling the drug in various forms will be warned.

Class B drugs include cannabis and amphetamine sulphate, carrying with it imprisonment of up to five years for possession and up to 14 years for dealing.

Expect the banning process as follows:

1. Home Secretary announces intention to ban
2. Parliamentary business committees formed
3. Proposal laid in Parliament
4. Debate and vote in each House
5. Approval by Privy Council

The heat is on…The resignation of the Advisory Council of Misuse of Drugs’ adviser, Dr Polly Taylor (veterinary medicine expert whose position on within the Council is required by law), has quit just hours before their advice was due on the banning of mephedrone in the UK this morning.  This, which could lead to the delay on the board’s advice to the Government.  A Liberal Democrat spokesman has said that Home Secretary Alan Johnson would have to wait until the Council was “properly constituted” before announcing the ban.  The Home Office has said it would not speculate on any delay on the ban and is expected to announce its decision later in the day.  Is it getting hot in here?