Minister urged to ban 'party drug'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Promising medical student Hester Stewart, 21, from Brighton, died in April and police are investigating whether she unknowingly took the substance during an evening out with friends.

Following her death, Maryon Stewart called for an immediate inquiry into why the drug gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) has not been banned in Britain.

Sussex Police said toxicology tests revealed Hester's death was due to GBL in conjunction with alcohol intake. An inquest is due to take place next month in Brighton.

Mrs Stewart is demanding to know why the drug has not been classified as a Class C drug as recommended by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs last August.

It is already banned for personal use in several countries including the United States and Sweden but is available at some health food shops in the UK and can also be purchased over the internet.

The Government's drug advisers have previously highlighted the "harms and misuse of GBL" were "commensurate with Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971".

However, the Home Office is yet to introduce such legislation, because of the possible impact control might have on the industrial use of GBL.

Mrs Stewart, a nutritionist, said: "We called for this meeting because we want to know why GBL isn't classified as a drug at the moment. My daughter died as a result of consuming it combined with alcohol. It is a colourless liquid which turns into GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) in the stomach. A small amount of GBL mixed with alcohol can be lethal."

"GBL could be classified within 90 minutes by the Statutory Instruments Committee. I hope banning GBL for personal use will be a swift process."