Interior Minister Angelino Alfano
pledged Tuesday a "zero tolerance" policy against illegal drugs
and action against clubs where such drugs are available to
teenagers.
"We will adopt zero tolerance against drug highs that
kill," Alfano said in an interview published Tuesday.
That came day one day after the Cocorico disco and night
club near Rimini was temporarily closed for four months after a
16-year-old died there last month.
The teen had taken drugs purchased elsewhere.
"We can't stand by and watch while youngsters destroy their
brains and risk their lives or even lose them," he told Corriere
della Sera newspaper.
"We will continue to take severe measures of prevention and
repression, but on one point I want to be clear - there is no
hard line against discos, but against the sale and supply of
drugs in discos".
Asked if other clubs in addition to the Cocoricò will be
closed, Alfano said "we will act against those who don't respect
the law".
He dismissed protests from the management of the Cocoricò
who claim the closure is too severe.
Alfano said "we have a duty to follow a tough line".
He also dismissed complaints from within his own New Centre
Right (NCD) party that the move was harming a business and
employer.
"We think of safeguarding the entertainment businesses by
keeping pushers at a distance and reaffirm that one can also
have fun till dawn without getting drugged up on tablets or
drinking hard liquor," said Alfano.
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