PlC - I don't have gout, but then I don't drink red wine and rarely eat read meat, two of the most commonly know agitators. Suppose if I did imbibe I would have gout because it is closely related to same inflammatories of rheumatoid arthritis.

re the Exlax trick - same thing was done at my work LexisNexis so I heard. Someone was nicking people lunches from the fridge. Supposedly it was commonly known who the thief was. So it was agreed by all others that a tray of Exlax laced brownies with a few missing would be left in the fridge, with a note not to eat as they were being saved for editor meeting.

The culprit was caught. I think I was told same thing happened at Essex County Hall.