Notes used to snort cocaine in Spain
El Mundo has reported that 94% of Euro notes in Spain contain traces of cocaine. Well what a surprise!
Because these notes could have been “contaminated” at any point, such as when put in counting machines, it doesn’t tell us anything about the number of people using it, the frequency or anything else that might be interesting. But it does grab tabloid headlines.
Similar surveys in London have found traces on 99% of all £5 notes. Even tests in the European Parliament’s toilets found traces of cocaine. Does this tell us that MEPs are using? Hardly, they have their own private bathrooms, and the EP toilets can be used by the public.
The only thing that I can think that these types of surveys tell us is that people are using notes to snort cocaine. In this case Euro notes - perhaps we should get rid of notes! Or ban the Euro!