HC Deb 04 July 1924 vol 175 cc1709-10
Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I beg to move, in page 2, line 23, after the word "using" to insert the words "except upon medical advice."

Sir S. RUSSELL-WELLS

I beg to second the Amendment.

I should like to make a few observations which bear on other Amendments and on the whole Clause—

Colonel WEDGWOOD

I am accepting both this and the following Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I beg to move, in page 2, line 24, to leave out the words any sedative, narcotic, or stimulant drug or preparation and to insert instead thereof the words opium or other dangerous drug, within the meaning of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920. I think the House will agree that the Clause has been drafted in a very loose fashion. Indeed, I am very surprised that it has come down to this House from the Committee upstairs in its present state. If hon. Members will look at the Clause and I invite them to do so very carefully, they will see that it makes a man who takes any sedative, any narcotic, any stimulant drug or preparation into an habitual drunkard under the old Act of 1879. I cannot believe that the Committee upstairs or the House really have that intention at all. Surely tea is a sedative. Yet, under this Clause as drafted, if a man be an habitual drinker of tea and it acts as a sedative upon him, he becomes an habitual drunkard under that old Act. In the same way with regard to a stimulant. You may call coffee a stimulant.

Sir S. RUSSELL-WELLS

I beg to second the Amendment.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

We accept this Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.