THE pudding has been cleared away, the coffee served. It’s time to bring on the balloons and soon everyone is laughing — literally.

Ten years ago, no dinner party of the urban elite was regarded as truly chic unless the guests were provided with lines of cocaine cut on the table as the coffee was served.

The parties of the Noughties have adopted an altogether lighter drug. Laughing gas is fast turning into the drug of choice.

The euphoria produced by this odourless, colourless gas, and the deceptive lack of side effects, is making it increasingly popular for those who need a post prandial lift.

For many its attraction is difficult to beat. As one party organiser told The Times: “People who used to use cocaine now take laughing gas. It’s cheaper — and as it’s legal, it’s easier to get hold of.”

But the seemingly harmless “drug”, famous for its anaesthetic properties, has rung alarm bells with doctors who warn that it can kill.

New Zealand has banned the sale of nitrous oxide for the purpose of inhalation after it was implicated in several deaths. Doctors in Britain have given warning that at the least it can cause serious depression and prolonged use can lead to brain damage.

“People call it ‘Hippy Crack’,” said John, 28, a musician who lives in London. “It’s really quite addictive. When you take it you completely lose control for about a minute. When you laugh, you laugh a lot. You’re just out of it.

“I don’t want to take coke every weekend or anything else like that, or spend so much money. So laughing gas is a good replacement.” Since trying laughing gas, John has stocked up and now has a large supply at his house. Finding the gas was easy: it is readily available on the internet.

Nitrous oxide comes in small aluminium pellets that are inserted into a can more often used to squirt cream on to desserts. A laughing gas “kit” comprising canister and pellets sells for about £55 a time. Users spray the gas into a deflated balloon, which they then take “hits” from.

Suppliers of fresh cream “creamers” to the catering industry have realised that their products are being abused by some customers and have posted disclaimers on their sites. BestWhip said: “We have disclaimers on the boxes and the cartridges. If we find out that the product is sold to minors, used by minors, or used for illegal applications, we stop selling to them.”

Concern at the popularity of laughing gas is growing among doctors. The long-term damage to health is severe and misuse can be fatal. Donald Singer, professor of clinical pharmacology at Warwick Medical School, said: “Nitrous oxide, like other inhaled gases, is a depressant of the central nervous system. People initially feel uninhibited but large amounts can lead to serious depression.

“The main problem with nitrous oxide is that it interferes with vitamin B12 which is vital for blood cell function. Without it, people become anaemic. It’s also vital for normal nerve and brain function. People at risk from a vitamin B12 deficiency can incur damage to their spinal column, nerves and brain.”

There is concern that users will be killed by inhaling straight from the canister, which can “freeze” parts of the throat and lungs, causing suffocation.

In September, a man and a woman died in Sydney after they locked themselves in a car with friends and set off a cylinder of laughing gas. They died from hypoxia, a condition in which the body is starved of oxygen, a side-effect of inhaling too much of the gas.

While inhaling laughing gas is still legal in Britain, website operators could run into trouble if they are not legitimate online pharmacies. A search of the internet reveals websites that sell nitrous oxide and dispensers for as little as £55 for a kit containing 50 chargers.

LAUGHTER IN THE AIR

Nitrous oxide is occasionally injected into the fuel of racing cars to give them exceptional acceleration

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The bright side of this winter rain
• Story behind the picture: Snow Leopard, 2008
• Times Charity Appeal: The Place2Be