Admin Posted July 25, 2014 THE ban on khat could be to blame for the recent anti-social behaviour in Easton previously linked to Ramadan. Somali community activist Abdi Mohamed, of the Bristol Somali Media Group, said the closure of khat cafes had left young users on the street. He said authorities had been warned of the potential effects of the ban on the herbal stimulant previously sold openly in shops and some cafes. He called on more outreach work and community facilities to deal with the cultural shift which is taking place. He told the Bristol Post: "If you think about it, there were 20-30 khat cafes full every evening when the ban was not in place and now they are closed. "These cafes were not just for people taking khat, they were for people to socialise in too and now a lot of people have no where to go in the evenings." Groups of up to 100 men loitering on and around Stapleton Road were highlighted earlier this week by residents complaining about noise into the early hours. The problem was initially blamed on people breaking the Ramadan fast at dusk. Police stepped up patrols in the area and put up signs in the street asking for respect for neighbours during the month of fasting which ends this Sunday. Khat is a leafy plant chewed by some communities from North Africa which acts as a stimulant. The plant became illegal in June this year and is now a Class C drug. SOURCE: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/ http://www.somaliaonline.com/neighborhood-residents-complain-about-late-night-noise-but-somalis-blame-the-recent-khat-ban-which-they-say-had-left-users-on-the-street/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
