No no no - cheap(ish) and as it is sold in Peckhams, which has a midnight licence, it's dead easy to get. They have 3 different Absinthes (from different countries, I think)
It tastes okay - and tastes much better after the first one. I'd be astonished if you could get any effect like the original, highly psychoactive absinthe these days.

I can't remember the name of the cocktail, but you can get a layered drink of sambuca, goldshlager and absinthe which really does the job!!