Canada Aims to Calm Drunks With Lollipops

Suckers have power to soothe rowdies, councilwoman says
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 20, 2011 5:33 AM CDT
Updated Jul 24, 2011 7:53 AM CDT
Canada Aims to Calm Drunks With Lollipops
Police should start handing out suckers to potential troublemakers, the councilwoman says.   (Shutterstock)

Rowdy drunks in Victoria, British Columbia, may soon find the police offering them something to suck on. A city councilwoman says handing out lollipops could do a lot to solve the city's persistent problem with people causing trouble after the bars close, the Globe and Mail reports. The candy, she says, shuts people up and calms them down, both through the sugar hit and the pacifier effect.

Police helped her hand out lollipops to groups of loud drunks during Canada Day celebrations earlier this month, and the councilwoman says the suckers definitely worked. "They got calmer after taking the lollipops,” she says. “It had an immediate effect." A police department spokesman says the move is being considered, although since officers already have enough to carry, it would be better if bars handed out the candy. (More lollipop stories.)

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