Pubdate: Mon, 17 Mar 2008
Source: Metro (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Associated Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.metro.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4714

A NIGHT ON DRUGS CHEAPER THAN GOING TO THE PUB

A line of cocaine is now as cheap as a pint of beer after the latest
alcohol tax rises took effect. An average pint in Britain has topped
UKP3 following a 4p rise in the budget - making it the same price as a
line of cocaine, according to official government figures.

In London the average price of a pint - at UKP4.06 - is dearer than a
hit of heroin.

A line of speed or the cannabis resin for a spliff now costs the same
as just two cigarettes, according to separate figures released by the
Independent Drug Monitoring Unit, which provides street prices for
evidence in courts.

The average price of an ecstasy pill is now UKP2.91, with some costing
as little as UKP1, while an average hit of heroin is just UKP3.50.

The charity Drugscope, which has seen a sharp rise in cocaine use,
warned it was now cheaper to spend an evening bingeing on cocaine than
to spend a night in the pub.

Spokesman Harry Shapiro said: 'The tax on alcohol has been going up
and up while the price of cocaine has been coming down. There comes a
point when the lines cross and it may well be that point is now.

'I don't like comparing a line with a pint of beer because cocaine
isn't sold by the line but, if you're asking me if it now costs no
more to have a night on cocaine as it does on alcohol, unfortunately
I'd have to say yes.'

Over the past ten years, the price of cocaine has dropped from UKP77 a
gram to UKP45, while heroin has fallen from UKP74 to UKP53.

The Campaign for Real Ale said: 'The latest tax increase will drive
people away from community pubs, which help discourage the problem, to
drink cheap supermarket alcohol at home, in streets and in parks.'

Shadow home secretary David Davis added: 'Under Labour, hard drugs
have become cheaper and more easily available than at any point in
history.' The Home Office refuted claims that low drug prices
necessarily meant they were more widely available.

A spokesman said: 'Reductions in the price of drugs may be associated
with increased competition or reduced demand, not just increased
availability.

'The relationship between drug prices and drug use is not
straightforward.

For example, despite historically low prices for ecstasy, the British
Crime Survey shows its prevalence has declined.'

This month a UN report condemned Britain's celebrity 'endorsed'
drug-related lifestyles and said cocaine use here was among the
highest in Europe, along with Spain and Italy.

A study last year of 8,300 people under 45 showed that taking cocaine
doubled the risk of a stroke, while taking speed or crystal meth
increased the risk by five times.
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MAP posted-by: Derek