Getting hookahs off the streets

BONGS are illegal to sell, display or supply in the City of Casey under new State Government laws, which came into effect this month.
Victoria Police will enforce the new laws, with maximum penalties for breaches of up to $7328 for an individual and up to $36,642 for a company.
South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich said the move sent an important message that cannabis was an illegal drug, which when consumed could have harmful consequences.
Ms Peulich said Casey had one of the biggest increases of drug offences from 2009-2010 to 2010-11.
“The results from the 2010 national drug strategy household survey found that 33 per cent of the Victorian population aged 14 and over reported the use of cannabis at some stage in their life, making cannabis the most widely used illicit drug in Victoria,” Ms Peulich said.
“The biggest increase was in the City of Greater Dandenong at 32.6 per cent. In Kingston there was a 19.5 per cent increase and in Casey a 15.5 per cent increase, and that is a very disturbing trend indeed.”
Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge said bongs were being taken out of the markets, off the shelves and out of shop windows to stop them being seen as a normal retail item.
“Police will have the appropriate seizure powers in relation to bongs, bong components and bong kits that are displayed, are for sale or are supplied as part of a commercial activity,” Ms Peulich said.
“The Coalition Government is determined to reduce the harm to Casey families caused by illicit drug use, and prohibiting the sale of bongs is an important part of achieving that.”