Sky News’ laughing gas cock-up

Sky News’ laughing gas cock-up

28 April, 2007 | 8.49AM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: brighton, dirty weekend, idc, laughing gas

Electro producer IDC was left laughing after a sensationalist undercover film by Sky News gave him and the Brighton club night where he is resident DJ Europe-wide free publicity.

The news channel, which broadcast its ‘exposé’ throughout the day last Thursday across Europe and the UK, ‘revealed’ how laughing gas is being sold illegally in pubs and clubs in Britain as a recreational drug.

Dozens of clubbers were secretly filmed inhaling nitrous-oxide ballons in Brighton’s Ocean Rooms at the club night Dirty Weekend, where IDC is resident.

Inhaling and possessing laughing gas is however not illegal, and for a long time it has been well known that clubs across Britain have been openly selling the gas, so Sky News’ film did nothing except give IDC and the club night free exposure.

Even IDC’s track ‘Stomp’ can be heard in the background of the black and white Sky News film.

IDC ranted that the Sky News film was classic tabloid scare-mongering.

“It’s another in a long line of media knee-jerks that seem to happen when a lot of people are having a good time and the press haven’t got a clue what’s going on,” he told Beatportal.

“How can they prosecute anyone for something that’s put in whipping cream and that isn’t actually illegal to possess or inhale?

“I reckon the government will introduce legislation soon that all clubs have to be seated like football grounds, with breaks in between tracks for polite applause. Fuck ‘em.”

Recently, the media has given a lot of attention to the laughing gas craze sweeping clubland, because like all drugs, abuse of it can kill.

In February, 23-year-old company director Daniel Watts was found dead at his home next to a large canister of nitrous oxide.

It is believed he asphyxiated himself after excessively inhaling the drug.

Laughing gas health risks include injuries resulting from a fall induced by its effects - which are caused by starving the brain of oxygen - and long term dangers such as bone marrow suppression, blood cell problems and poisoning of the central nervous system.

These risks are likely to be exacerbated if the drug is combined with alcohol or other drugs.

However, laughing gas is generally perceived as a safe party drug, and many clubs including London club Turnmills and Brighton’s Ocean Rooms have been selling it to clubbers in balloons containing a single hit for about £2.

“Like other club premises, we accept its responsible use,” said a spokesman for Turnmills.

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