News Flashback - 04/01/2000 'Loves in the air, alcohol nowhere'

[hoptis]

Love's in the air, alcohol nowhere
Author: By GREG BEARUP
Date: 04/01/2000

At 4am at Bondi on New Year's Day, dozens of bored police wandered past thousands of partygoers with smiles beaming from faces with dilated pupils.

Love, it seemed, was in the air.

There was little for the police to do not a single fight and only one arrest for a minor drink-driving charge.

Why? The answer, say police and health experts, may be the great shift among young party goers from alcohol and its associated aggressive behaviour to ecstasy, the love drug.

"It was quite amazing," a senior Bondi police officer said of one of the most trouble-free New Year's Eves in years.

"Five or 10 years ago everyone would have been drunk and there would have been fights everywhere. The paddy wagons would have been full, but we had no trouble at all this year.

"The big topic of conversation amongst the officers on the night was how the widespread use of ecstasy has really calmed things down. It has changed the whole scene."

The officers at Bondi were easily able to pick out those who had used the drug, with their broad, dopey smiles, dilated pupils and rapid chewing of gum.

There are concerns that ecstasy may cause damage to brain cells this has been shown in animal experiments but the jury is still out on the verdict for humans. UK studies have linked its use with forgetfulness, poor concentration and post-use depression.

In the past few years there has been a shift in the culture of ecstasy in Sydney from a gay and inner-city club drug to widespread mainstream use in the young, straight community.

It has been a change that has led to a significant decline in violence, says Dr Gordian Fulde, the head of accident and emergency at St Vincent's Hospital.

In the 17 years he has been in the job he has seen New Year's Eve turn from a bit of a "bloodbath" to something akin to any normal Thursday night.

At 2.30am on New Year's Day, his staff were still waiting for patients that never arrived.

"A few years ago the big thing was to go out and get terribly drunk and with that came the violence, beatings and vomit," Dr Fulde said.

"But there has been a major cultural change where the young of today would rather pop a pill, hug each other and dance until dawn it has certainly cut down on the violence."

At the three biggest parties held in the city on New Year's Eve Mobile Home at Bondi Beach, Pride at the old Showground and NY2K at Homebush there were more than 35,000 young people dancing the night away.

Anecdotal reports from police and partygoers at the parties suggested "a good percentage" of those in attendance had used ecstasy and other party drugs. No fights or arrests were reported.

Dr Fulde said the long-term effects of ecstasy were not fully known and people always took a risk when buying illegal drugs. However, the social effects of widespread ecstasy usewere not as bad as those of alcohol.

"People realise there is another way to have fun other than going out and getting smashed on alcohol. For a start, the hangover is nowhere near as bad."

Words: 551
Publication: Sydney Morning Herald
Section: News And Features
Page: 4

 

[hoptis]

Police deny drugs love-in
Author: By ELLEN CONNOLLY
Date: 05/01/2000

Police yesterday described as "absolute garbage" claims that widespread usage of the illegal drug ecstasy was responsible for the low number of arrests and fights in Bondi on New Year's Eve.

Assistant Police Commissioner Dick Adams cited the high police profile, responsible drinking and the force's high tolerance for exuberant behaviour as the key reasons for the peaceful celebrations.

"Most of the licensed premises, particularly at Bondi, closed at 9pm and so did the bottle shops. So in reality, once people had drunk their stocks they were unable to get any anywhere else," he said.

There was "not enough ecstasy to give 900,000 people a high", he said. "These claims have cast a doubt on the integrity of those officers who were involved in operations on the night. Police did a damn fine job to manage the large crowd in a very peaceful manner."

The Herald yesterday reported claims that the shift among young partygoers from alcohol and its associated aggressive behaviour to the so-called love drug ecstasy had led to a decline in anti-social behaviour.

The head of accident and emergency at St Vincent's Hospital, Dr Gordian Fulde, said the change had led to a significant decline in violence.

In response, Mr Adams said he would like to see a study that proved this.

He said it was "irresponsible and incorrect" to claim police were bored on the night and had no-one to arrest.

"They were not bored at all, they were managing crowds all night. They stood out in the rain in very unpleasant conditions all night to ensure everybody was well behaved."

At Bondi in particular partygoers, both on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, were well behaved.

"We have been planning this for 12 months," Mr Smith said. "It's a credit to the people who were there and the way in which the event was policed by Superintendent Bob May."

Words: 321
Publication: Sydney Morning Herald
Section: News And Features
Page: 4

 

[hoptis]

Starboy asked for these articles so I thought I might post it for everyone.

Interesting stuff and it's easy to see why the police would try to refute such arguments the day after they're made. Would also suggest that since this article, police have probably been more careful about what they say publicly about "drug" crowds.

 

[starboy]

hey thanks for that - what a beautiful start to the century from the police even if there was a comedown afterwards