A resident who moved to rural Cornwall seeking a quieter life has described experiencing cocaine use in a wide range of settings, from village pubs to popular beaches, leading to a sense of isolation due to her refusal to partake.
Rebecca Tidy recounted an incident on Porthgwidden Beach where a group of holidaymakers were observed appearing to use cocaine less than a meter away from her eight-year-old daughter, Mabel, who was building a sandcastle. Tidy noted that the group, characterized by designer bags and sandals, were loud and disruptive, with Mabel commenting on their behavior.
Tidy stated that cocaine use seems to be an increasingly common part of Cornish life, citing observations of its sale and use outside bars and shops, on beaches like Polzeath, and within inland village pubs. She emphasized that the issue extends beyond affluent tourists or festivalgoers, reaching into ordinary towns and communities.
At a budget gym in St Austell, Tidy reported overhearing men discuss the negative consequences of their weekend cocaine use, including instances of violence when combined with alcohol and anabolic steroids, and significant financial expenditure. Despite expressing shame and apologies to partners or mothers, she noted that these same individuals often discuss purchasing drugs for the upcoming weekend, highlighting a stark contrast with their dedication to physical fitness.
Tidy recalled a conversation in 2021 with her then-ex-boyfriend, a Penzance native, who had described cocaine as socially acceptable in the area. Initially dismissing his comment, Tidy later encountered casual cocaine use at a party hosted by business acquaintances shortly after moving to Cornwall. She described a businessman casually offering a bag of white powder, an act met with nonchalance by others present. Tidy felt her disapproval made her an outsider, leading to frosty interactions with some women who she felt viewed her refusal as judgmental.
For a period, Tidy attempted to overlook the casual drug use, considering herself potentially too liberal or uptight. However, she found that the atmosphere in social settings changed when cocaine was present, becoming louder, more boastful, and argumentative. The potential for someone to become ill or for police intervention led her to decline invitations where she suspected cocaine would be involved, resulting in increasing social isolation.
This stance has also affected her dating life, with complaints about men assuming drug use is part of a good night out becoming common among her female friends. Tidy now sets clear boundaries early in potential relationships, stating her non-use of cocaine and refusal to date those who do.
Becoming a mother has intensified her feelings about the pervasiveness of cocaine use. Tidy expressed concern about her daughter growing up to view cocaine as a routine part of social life and stated that she should not spend time in environments where it is treated as unremarkable. Reflecting on her experience on Porthgwidden Beach, she noted that people move to the coast for a healthier lifestyle, but the normalization of cocaine in idyllic locations raises questions about its prevalence elsewhere in Britain.