A notice featuring the claim went viral on Twitter.
Gardaí have denied asking a shop in Cork to stop selling Animal Bars, despite a notice on store shelves claiming otherwise.
An image of the unusual request went viral on Twitter on Thursday (19 May).
“We no longer sell Animal Bars,” the sign read, along with “Request from Gardaí” added in small print.
need to know the story behind centra banning animal bars by order of the gardaí pic.twitter.com/qXE829Tt9q
— sophie 🥀 (@taurean444_) May 19, 2022
Social media users theorised that the Nestlé bars may have been removed from store shelves, as the thin foil surrounding the chocolate could theoretically be used as drug paraphernalia.
“Gardaí are aware of an image circulating on social media which refers to a sign displayed in a business premises in Cork,” An Garda Síochána said in a statement.
“No such instruction or advice was issued by An Garda Síochána. Local Gardaí have liaised with the business and the sign has since been removed.
“Gardaí in Anglesea Street continue to support local businesses by issuing crime prevention advice and conducting regular, high visibility patrols,” the statement concluded.
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Riordáin criticised the move by the premises.
“Epitome of a failed drug policy that thinks an Animal Bar ban makes more sense than harm reduction approach to drug use,” Ó Riordáin tweeted.
“Does anyone really think someone chronically addicted to heroin is going to change their behaviour because the tinfoil in Animal Bars is harder to buy?”
Epitome of a failed drug policy that thinks an Animal Bar ban makes more sense than harm reduction approach to drug use.
Does anyone really think someone chronically addicted to heroin is going to change their behaviour because the tinfoil in Animal Bars is harder to buy? https://t.co/4mizQZHdI2
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) May 19, 2022
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