SHUTTERSTOCK

A central Alberta alderman was met with laughter when he expressed a concern over teens getting drunk from inserting alcohol-soaked tampons into their bodies.

Wetaskiwin Ald. Barry Hawkes told RCMP brass during a council meeting he'd watched a U.S. TV show about the unusual behaviour.

“Are you finding any problems as far as the high school and junior highs where alcohol is starting to become prominent?" Hawkes said during the Jan. 30 meeting.

“Do you mean drinking outside the school?” asked Staff Sgt. Gary Rhodes.

Hawkes then said teenagers are using tampons soaked in alcohol in order to get drunk.

“And it’s a male, female – they’re sticking them up their rectums and getting a quick fix off of that,” said Hawkes.

Rhodes said police have not received any calls from schools about it.

“But I did watch a program down in the States. It’s starting to become (a problem). It’s on the web,” said Hawkes.

He added he had watched another show that showed young people bringing vodka soaked gummy bears to school.

“Bears swell up with the alcohol, and they just pass that around to other (teenagers)," Hawkes said.

Hawkes’ concerns produced giggles from some of council.

“It’s the truth,” said Hawkes.

“I know, but...” said Ald. Dale Crabtree with a chuckle.

Hawkes told council that he wanted to retract his statements.

Wetaskiwin is a small city about 60 km south of Edmonton.