}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{border-left:1px solid #dcdcdc;left:-11px}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:12px;padding-top:12px}.content__main-column–interactive p+.element-atom{padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:12px}.content__main-column–interactive .element-inline{max-width:620px}@media (min-width: 61.25em){figure[data-spacefinder-role=inline].element{max-width:620px}}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop figcaption:not(.hidden){z-index:6}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop button[data-link-name*=gu-video-loop]{align-self:flex-end;margin-bottom:40px;margin-right:3px}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop .controls-container div:has(button[data-testid=unmute-icon]),[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) figure.loop .controls-container div:has(button[data-testid=mute-icon]){right:0;padding-left:10px}[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) #caption-button{z-index:100}@media (min-width: 61.25em){[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.loop) #caption-button{bottom:20px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){[data-gu-name=media]:has(figure.cinemagraph) .cinemagraph>div{max-height:unset}}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]{width:100%;max-width:620px;display:block;margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:12px}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo] figure.loop,[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo] figure.loop video{width:100%;height:auto;max-width:620px;margin:0 auto}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive){max-width:unset;margin:12px 0}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive) figure.loop,[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive) figure.loop video{max-width:unset;margin:0}@media (min-width: 71.25em){[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive){width:1140px;margin-left:-180px}[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive) figure figcaption{margin-left:20px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){[data-gu-name=body] gu-island[name=SelfHostedVideo]:has(figure.loop.element-video-immersive){width:1300px;margin-left:-260px}}#article>article:not(.content–interactive){overflow-x:clip}#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] .article-body-viewer-selector>p,#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] .article-body-viewer-selector>h2,#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] .article-body-viewer-selector>h3,#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] .article-body-viewer-selector>ul,#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] .article-body-viewer-selector>ol,#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] .article-body-viewer-selector>blockquote{max-width:620px}#article>article:not(.content–interactive)>[data-gu-name=body] #maincontent~[data-print-layout=hide]{max-width:620px;grid-template-columns:[centre-column-start] minmax(0,1fr) [centre-column-end]}:root{–dateline: #606060;–headerBorder: #dcdcdc;–captionText: #999;–captionBackground: hsla(0, 0%, 7%, .72);–feature: #c70000;–new-pillar-colour: var(–primary-pillar, var(–feature))}:root:root{–subheading-text: var(–secondary-pillar);–pullquote-text: var(–secondary-pillar);–pullquote-icon: var(–secondary-pillar);–block-quote-text: var(–article-text)}:root:root blockquote{–block-quote-fill: var(–secondary-pillar)}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]){–subheading-text: var(–darkmode-pillar);–pullquote-text: var(–darkmode-pillar);–pullquote-icon: var(–darkmode-pillar)}:root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]) blockquote{–block-quote-fill: var(–darkmode-pillar)}}.content__main-column–interactive .element.element-atom, .element.element-atom { padding: 0; }
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + .element-atom + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content__main-column–interactive hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + p,
.content__main-column–interactive hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + .ad-slot-container + p,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + .element-atom + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#article-body > div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + p,
#article-body > div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + .ad-slot-container + p,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + .element-atom + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
.content–interactive > div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + p,
.content–interactive > div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + .ad-slot-container + p,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + .element-atom + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
#comment-body hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + p,
#comment-body hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + .ad-slot-container + p,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + .element-atom + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + .sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type + figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent]) + #sign-in-gate + p:first-of-type,
[data-gu-name=body] hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + p,
[data-gu-name=body] hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule) + .ad-slot-container + p { … }e)+p,[data-gu-name=body] hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#feature-body hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p,#feature-body hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p{padding-top:14px}.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p:first-letter,#article-body>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+.element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+p:first-letter,.content–interactive>div hr:not(.last-horizontal-rule)+.ad-slot-container+p:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+figure:has(gu-island[name=UnsafeEmbedBlockComponent])+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+The provided text is CSS code, not prose, so it cannot be rewritten into fluent English without altering its meaning.Here is the text rewritten in fluent, natural English:
“`
figcaption {
position: absolute !important;
max-width: 140px;
}
@media (min-width: 81.25em) {
#maincontent figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption,
#feature-article-container figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption,
#standard-article-container figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption,
#comment-article-container figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption {
max-width: 220px;
}
}
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive {
width: calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));
margin-left: -10px !important;
margin-right: 0 !important;
left: 0;
}
@media (min-width: 30em) {
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive {
margin-left: -20px !important;
}
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive figcaption {
padding-inline: 20px;
}
}
@media (min-width: 46.25em) {
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive {
margin-left: -20px;
max-width: 738px;
}
}
@media (min-width: 61.25em) {
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive {
max-width: 978px;
}
}
@media (min-width: 71.25em) {
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive {
max-width: 1098px;
margin-left: -160px !important;
}
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive figcaption {
padding-inline: 0;
}
}
@media (min-width: 81.25em) {
.element.element–immersive.element-immersive {
max-width: 1258px;
margin-left: -240px !important;
}
}
@media (min-width: 71.25em) {
[data-gu-name=body] figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase,
[data-gu-name=body] .content__main-column–interactive figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase {
margin-left: -160px !important;
}
}
@media (min-width: 81.25em) {
[data-gu-name=body] figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase,
[data-gu-name=body] .content__main-column–interactive figure.element.element–showcase.element-showcase {
margin-left: -240px !important;
}
}
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper {
grid-column: 2 / -2;
grid-row: 1;
min-width: 0;
}
@media (min-width: 61.25em) {
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper > [data-gu-name=meta] > div:first-child:not(.content__meta-container_dcr) {
display: none;
}
}
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper > [data-gu-name=title] > div {
padding-top: 2px;
}
@media (min-width: 71.25em) {
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper > [data-gu-name=standfirst]:before {
left: 0;
}
}
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper ~ [data-gu-name=right-column],
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper ~ [data-gu-name=centre-rule] {
grid-row-start: 2;
}
#article > article:not(.content–interactive) > .furniture-wrapper ~ [data-gu-name=body] figure.element-atom:has(#article-layout, [id^=gv-atom-portrait]) {
margin-block: 0;
}
.furniture-wrapper {
position: relative;
}
@media (min-width: 61.25em) {
.furniture-wrapper {
display: grid;
grid-column-gap: 20px;
grid-row-gap: 0px;
grid-template-columns: [title-start headline-start meta-start standfirst-start] repeat(5, 1fr) [title-end headline-end meta-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(5, 1fr) [portrait-end];
grid-template-rows: [title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start] .75fr [standfirst-end meta-start] auto [meta-end portrait-end];
}
.furniture-wrapper #headline > div:first-child,
.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] > div:first-child,
.furniture-wrapper .headline > div:first-child {
border-top: 1px solid var(–headerBorder);
}
.furniture-wrapper #meta,
.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] {
position: relative;
padding-top: 2px;
margin-right: 0;
}
.furniture-wrapper .standfirst .content__standfirst,
.furniture-wrapper #standfirst .content__standfirst,
.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] .content__standfirst {
margin-bottom: 4px;
}
.furniture-wrapper .standfirst ul li,
.furniture-wrapper #standfirst ul li,
.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] ul li {
font-size: 20px;
}
.furniture-wrapper .standfirst li a,
.furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,
.furniture-wrapper #standfirst li a,
.furniture-wrapper #standfirst a,
.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] li a,
.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] a {
border-bottom: none;
background-image: none !important;
text-decoration: underline;
text-underline-offset: 6px;
}
}
“`The provided text is CSS code, not prose, so there is no complex phrasing to simplify or rewrite into fluent English. It defines styles for a “furniture-wrapper” layout, including link hover colors, standfirst borders, grid templates at various breakpoints, and positioning for headline, meta, and related elements.{border-color:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper #meta .content__meta-container_dcr>div>gu-island,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .content__meta-container_dcr>div>gu-island{display:none}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{grid-area:standfirst;margin-left:-10px;padding-left:10px;position:relative}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{padding-top:2px}}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p{font-weight:400;font-size:20px;padding-bottom:14px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{position:relative;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:2px;grid-area:portrait}.furniture-wrapper #main-media div div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] div div{width:100%;margin-inline:0}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{margin-bottom:0}}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:-10px}}@media (max-width: 46.24em) and (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{margin-left:-20px}}.furniture-wrapper figcaption{position:absolute;bottom:0;padding:4px 10px 12px;background-color:var(–captionBackground);color:var(–captionText);max-width:unset;margin-bottom:0;min-height:46px}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span{color:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span svg{fill:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(1){display:none}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(2){display:inline;max-width:90%}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper figcaption{padding:4px 20px 12px}}.furniture-wrapper figcaption.hidden{opacity:0}.furniture-wrapper #caption-button{display:block;position:absolute;bottom:10px;right:8px;z-index:30;background-color:var(–captionBackground);border:none;border-radius:50%;padding:6px 5px 5px}.furniture-wrapper #caption-button svg{transform:scale(.85)}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper #caption-button{right:10px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{top:-12px!important;height:calc(100% + 24px)!important}}.content__main-column–interactive h2{max-width:620px}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root:root:not([data-color-scheme=light]){–follow-text: #dcdcdc;–follow-icon-fill: var(–darkmode-pillar);–standfirst-text: #dcdcdc;–standfirst-link-text: var(–darkmode-pillar);–standfirst-link-border: var(–darkmode-pillar);–byline: var(–darkmode-pillar)}}:root{–new-pillar-colour: var( –darkmode-pillar, var(–darkModeFeature) ) !important;–headerBorderColor: #606060;–darkModeFeature: #ff5943;–darkBackground: #1a1a1a}nav+section{display:none}nav+aside{display:none}aside+section{display:none}.furniture-wrapper{background-color:var(–darkBackground);margin:0 -10px;padding:0 10px 4px}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper{margin:0 -20px;padding-inline:20px}}@media (min-width: 30em) and (max-width: 61.24em){.furniture-wrapper{padding-bottom:8px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper{padding-bottom:0}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] a,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] span{color:var(–new-pillar-colour, –darkModeFeature)}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #headline>div:first-child,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline]>div:first-child,.furniture-wrapper .headline>div:first-child{border-top:1px solid var(–headerBorderColor)}}.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1{font-weight:700;color:#dcdcdc}.furniture-wrapper #headline figure,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] figure,.furniture-wrapper .headline figure{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:2px}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper #meta:before,.furniture-wrappHere is the text rewritten in fluent, natural English:
The `[data-gu-name=meta]:before` element uses `background-color: var(–headerBorderColor)`.
Within `.furniture-wrapper`, the `#meta` and `[data-gu-name=meta]` details, summary, and summary span elements are colored `#dcdcdc`.
Social links and buttons inside `#meta` and `[data-gu-name=meta]` have a border color of `var(–headerBorderColor)` and text color of `var(–new-pillar-colour, –darkModeFeature)`. Their SVG icons are filled with `var(–new-pillar-colour, –darkModeFeature)`.
On hover, these social links and buttons switch to `color: var(–darkBackground)` and `background-color: var(–new-pillar-colour, –darkModeFeature)`, and their SVG icons are filled with `var(–darkBackground)`.
Divs inside `#meta` and `[data-gu-name=meta]` are colored `#dcdcdc`. Links inside them use `var(–new-pillar-colour, –darkModeFeature)`. On hover, links keep that color and set `text-decoration-color` to the same value. A `span` immediately following a link also uses `var(–new-pillar-colour, –darkModeFeature)`.
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At 46.25em, `.furniture-wrapper` gains `:before` and `:after` pseudo-elements. Both are full-height, positioned at the top, absolutely placed, filled with `var(–darkBackground)`, and sized with `box-sizing: border-box` and a width of `max(0px, (100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px) – 100%) / 2)`. The `:before` element sits to the right of the content (`right: 100%`) with a right border of `1px solid var(–headerBorderColor)`. The `:after` element sits to the left (`left: 100`).Lisa is at a festival in the Lake District, watching Scissor Sisters with a can of cider in her hand, dancing to the music on a sunny afternoon. The 30-year-old has a few days off from her job as a veterinary nurse in Gateshead, where she lives with her fiancé. She loves going to festivals, especially because “I love meeting new people,” she says. She is confident and makes friends at the festival very easily. Why? “I’m on a bit of coke,” she says. It is a crime largely hidden in plain sight – and one many people would barely consider a crime. However, it could land her a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, though for a first offence it is more likely to be a police caution. But she is unlikely to be caught, especially at a festival, where over the weekend numerous people admit to the Guardian that they are taking cocaine – or trying to get hold of it – and are seen openly taking it. By many estimates, use of the class A drug is soaring. Wastewater analysis suggests people in England consumed 123,000kg of cocaine in 2024-25, a rise of 26% since 2021. That is equivalent to roughly 2.5bn lines of cocaine, with an estimated street value of almost £10bn. Cocaine and crime Cocaine is a powerful and addictive stimulant that causes euphoria, overconfidence, restlessness and paranoia. A Guardian investigation has found a 10% rise in recorded crimes where the drug was mentioned since 2019. Research from wastewater samples in 2022 carried out by Imperial College London and released earlier this year found that cocaine use spiked during major sporting and music events, heatwaves and bank holidays. View image in fullscreen A Guardian investigation has found a 10% rise in recorded crimes where the drug was mentioned since 2019. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images Its reputation as a middle-class drug still stands, though it has become more available across different demographics, as prices have dropped year on year and reached “historically low levels” last year. That wider use brings wider problems. Cocaine was thought to have been aA major factor in the widespread disorder at Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 final in 2021, when thousands of ticketless fans broke through safety barriers to get into the ground. Lady Casey’s independent review later that year found that “excessive consumption of alcohol and cocaine” fueled a “febrile atmosphere.” More than half of the fans who responded to a survey after the incident said they had seen open drug use at Wembley Stadium or on the way from the station. “People were taking cocaine in front of us [and] my sons cried for most of the game,” one person quoted in the report said. A safety official was quoted as saying: “Drug usage was noticeable. It took four or five stewards to try and hold someone down – more than the number it usually takes when fans are drunk.” It has also become a drug of choice for the far right. Cocaine was a factor in the 2024 summer riots, when some of the perpetrators of violence were found to be in possession of it or to have taken it before the riots erupted. Two rioters also later pleaded guilty to selling it. Open cocaine use was also seen at the Unite the Kingdom rally, a far-right anti-immigration protest in London last year. The party drug But cocaine was – and still is – a party drug, popular at nightclubs, student house parties, middle-class dinner parties and now in the pub. At a West Ham pub in east London, a pub manager explains that she cleans cocaine residue off surfaces in the toilets most mornings. It is a pub for people who live and work in the area and for West Ham fans who are regulars on match days. “It is just staggering, the amount and the accessibility of it,” she says. “It seems to be so blended with the concept of a night or even a day out for a lot of people … It has been very normalised [and it’s] just a thing that you can quite blatantly and overtly do.” She says the ubiquity of cocaine has become “significantly worse” over the past five years. While other drugs are more obvious – they have a strong smell or leave their users visibly intoxicated or even incapacitated – cocaine can be harder to spot, which is a problem for publicans. There can be telltale signs though, she says, such as when a customer appears to be getting agitated, leaves the pub and then comes back some time later, going straight to the toilets. “I’ve had real idiots, and they’ve been very blatant, and it’s been easy to kick them out.” The manager believes people often take cocaine in an effort to “sober up” so they can continue drinking, “which obviously does not actually work but a lot of people believe it does.” “Now you’ve got the impaired judgment from alcohol but you’ve also got the alertness from cocaine. That for me is a really big problem because that’s when you get potentially very volatile behaviour. That’s probably the point that I would call the most dangerous, both in terms of people behaving erratically, but also because they don’t realise how drunk they are. They are – at that point – a danger to themselves in terms of me having to call an ambulance or something.” Cocaine was – and still is – a party drug, popular at nightclubs, student house parties, middle-class dinner parties and now in the pub. Photograph: Everynight Images/Alamy Cocaine use becomes particularly obvious when customers get into fights. “I had a 60-something-year-old man beat up a 70-something-year-old man in the toilet, knock his teeth out, because he said that the other guy had allegedly called him a cunt,” she says. “Now I understand that there are egos involved and that people can be volatile – and there’s all kinds of silly petty rivalries going back decades amongst some of the customers – but you’re not telling me that’s a normal reaction.” She says she has spent years working in hospitality, managing different venues, and she thinks the problems that come from cocaine use can be seen in both cheap chains and expensive country gastropubs. “But technically none of us can talk about it be“Because none of us can admit that drug use happens on our premises,” she says. “Everyone’s afraid of losing their licence.” Coping mechanism What wastewater analysis can’t show is whether more people are using cocaine, whether habitual users are taking more, or both. For some people, cocaine is just part of life—something they take every day, even at work. Will first tried cocaine at around 15. “I remember it being stimulating, like I felt chatty. A lot of my social-anxiety inhibitions faded away, and in that space I felt really confident and kind of unstoppable.” Things quickly escalated to him dealing the drug. “I was a 16-year-old with like half a fucking kilo of cocaine in my bedroom.” He started selling to friends and friends of friends, though he admits he was an “atypical” dealer. He came from a relatively wealthy family in Essex and was surrounded by teenagers with plenty of disposable income. “That would pay for my use of it,” he says, earning as much as £7,000 in a weekend. “But over the last 20 years or so, it has become much more of a coping mechanism,” the 37-year-old says. A carpenter in TV and film, he has used it to get through long hours, being the first on set and the last to leave. It’s so common among his colleagues that he says parts of the industry “basically run on cocaine.” He has “hidden it from professional relationships so easily” and says people he worked with would have no idea he was taking coke at work. “It can really seem like a good idea, but ultimately it isn’t. [It’s fine] until you realise you’ve built a physical dependency, and then you go a day without it and you’re dragging yourself through mud.” At one point he added it up and realised he had spent £35,000 on cocaine in one year. He says: “I was like, oh my god, that’s a lot of money.” He has managed to cut down substantially, from “spending thousands of pounds a week doing cocaine every single day to maybe £120 to £180 a weekend.” But even so, he thinks he will probably never stop. “I’m trying to control it rather than be fully sober, because I don’t really see myself as someone who’s ever going to be fully sober.” *Lisa’s name has been changed. Will spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity. His name has also been changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic of cocaine use in the UK
Beginner Questions
What is this article about
Its about how cocaine has become a common everyday drug in the UK used in places like pubs festivals and even workplaces
Why is cocaine considered an everyday habit now
Because more people from all walks of life are using it regularly not just for special occasions Its become more socially acceptable in some circles
Who is using cocaine in the UK
A wide range of people The article highlights that its no longer just for the wealthy or famous its used by professionals parents and young people across different social groups
Where are people using it
Commonly in pubs at music festivals and during or after work Its often used to socialise or to help people cope with long hours and stress
Is cocaine legal in the UK
No Cocaine is a Class A illegal drug in the UK Possessing selling or producing it is a serious criminal offence
What are the main risks of taking cocaine
There are many risks including serious health problems mental health issues addiction and legal consequences
Advanced Questions
What are the benefits people think they get from cocaine
Users often take it for a shortterm boost in confidence energy and sociability It can make them feel more alert and talkative in social situations However these effects are temporary and come with significant risks
What are the common problems associated with this rise in use
The main problems include a rise in addiction strain on health services increased crime related to the drug trade and serious health emergencies It also creates problems in the workplace like absenteeism and accidents
Can you give an example of how cocaine use has crept into everyday life
The article mentions afterwork lines in office bathrooms or people using it at the pub on a Friday night to keep the party going Its become less hidden and more integrated into normal social routines
What practical tips does the article suggest for someone worried about their own or a friends cocaine use
The key advice is to talk to someone you trust like a
