"I don't like people who take drugs... Customs men for example"

Mick Miller’s statement humorously subverts the expectation created by the commonly heard phrase “I don’t like people who take drugs.” Typically, when individuals express dislike for people who “take drugs,” it is understood as disapproval of drug users or those engaged in illicit behavior. Miller deliberately interrupts that expectation with "...Customs men for example", spinning the meaning on its head.

The core of the joke lies in the wordplay surrounding the phrase “take drugs.” Normally, this means to consume drugs, but Miller cleverly suggests it could also mean to confiscate or seize drugs, something that customs officials frequently do as part of their job. Customs officers, stationed at borders and airports, are tasked with finding illegal substances and “taking” them away to prevent smuggling. Rather than attacking the common target of people who use drugs, Miller lampoons the enforcers, suggesting a mischievous or rebellious attitude toward authority.

The humor is subtle, springing from the ambiguity and dual meaning of the verb “to take.” On one hand, it signals ingestion or use, and on the other, an act of removal or confiscation. The punchline thus plays with the audience’s expectation and highlights the flexibility of language in delivering comedy. There is also an undertone of social commentary, pointing at the adversarial relationship between recreational drug users and law enforcement, especially those who enforce drug bans at borders.

Further layers of irony can be found, as Miller is not genuinely accusing customs officers of drug use, but rather making a light-hearted joke about how they prevent others from obtaining drugs by “taking” them. The structure encourages listeners to laugh both at the cleverness of the misdirection and at the absurd notion that someone might dislike authority figures for carrying out their lawful duties. This blend of wordplay, irony, and social observation is characteristic of effective comedic writing, allowing Miller to gently poke fun at both societal taboos and officialdom.