Minister are reportedly looking into banning the sale and possession of laughing gas to tackle antisocial behaviour.
It comes after The Times reported that new proposals could update drug misuse laws to allow people found with nitrous oxide gas in public to be prosecuted. The paper said that under such changes, only those with a "legitimate reason" to possess the gas would be exempt from prosecution.
One of those exempt could include chefs who use the gas for whipped cream or freezing and chilling food. The substance is also used in treating pain during dental treatment or childbirth.
Read more: Police issue warning to Trafford Centre visitors
Currently, the law bans the knowing or reckless supply of nitrous oxide for inhalation. However, there have been calls to ban all direct consumer sales of the gas to tighten up law on the commonly-used drug,
Policing minister Chris Philp is reportedly pushing for a review on the substance by the Independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to be fast-tracked to April. It has been suggested that a formal announcement on a ban could be made as part of the government's antisocial behaviour strategy later this year.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister spoke of the issue in his new year's speech, mentioning antisocial behaviour and the issue of discarded "nitrous oxide canisters in children's playgrounds'.
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