Present Tense »

• The party’s over?

  February 14, 2008 @ 11:19 am | by Shane Hegarty

  The new anti-drugs campaign – largely focussed on cocaine – has a couple of problems.

  Firstly, the ad that features a balloon popping over and over is, ironically, the kind of thing that would drive someone to substance abuse.

  Secondly, the slogan it reveals – The Party’s Over – represents a preachy, finger-wagging attitude that people only bristle against. The radio ads are pretty bad – badly acted, badly scripted – but the slogan might actually suggest the wrong thing: that a party’s only a party with drugs. It’s a “right now folks, time to go home to your beds and be responsible citizens” message of a killjoy authority.

  Besides, having complained about the “same aul’ jargon” last week, what does the minister with responsibility for drugs, Pat Carey think about a campaign that, despite the information leaflets and website, is largely hinged on the kind of aul’ jargon that has proven useless in the past?

• Saturday column: Just say no to the same aul’ jargon

  February 11, 2008 @ 8:33 am | by Shane Hegarty

  More than €10 million worth of cannabis was seized in a raid on a criminal gang in Kildare this week.

  The amount was so large that, added to the €1 million worth seized in another recent raid, we are already close to topping the €15.6 million total seized in all of 2007. And will this make a difference to supply? Barely.

  In the current issue of Hot Press, there is an interview with the Minister of State with responsibility for drugs, Pat Carey. “The ‘war on drugs’ business, let’s stop using that aul’ jargon,” he says. “This kind of top-of-the-head stuff to grab headlines is irresponsible . . . this does not contribute to the public debate.” How sensible. Except that Carey is pictured wearing a large badge containing the phrase “Say no to drugs” – which is aul’ jargon that is as empty-headed now as it was when championed during the 1980s. Saying no to drugs is not something this society has done before. A bright shiny badge isn’t going to be the tipping point. (more…)

• A Chianti would go well with those drug-filled balloons

  January 30, 2008 @ 5:06 pm | by Shane Hegarty

  Hot Press has a drugs issue out this week, so it’s made an ad for it. With balloon swallowing, Eastern European accents, graphic toilet scenes and coke being snorted off cleavage, it may in fact be a clever trailer for a Roaring Twenties spin-off.

  Watch it here. (Thanks Ivor for the tip)

  WARNING: Make sure you’re not eating while you watch it. You may laugh so hard that food will come out your nose.