OUTRAGE OVER SCHOOLIE PIPE SPECIALS

SHOPS on the Gold Coast have been accused of encouraging drug use
among young people by advertising "Schoolies Specials" on bongs and
pipes used for smoking "ice". Queensland Opposition health spokesman
John-Paul Langbroek said today a number of businesses in the heart of
Surfers Paradise have glass pipes and other implements associated
with illegal drug use prominently displayed in their windows.

"Glass pipes are available for $20 (and) ceramic bongs, many of them
adorned with pop culture icons, are also freely available and on
display," Mr Langbroek said.

"One store was even promoting a 'Schoolies Spesh' on the items."

Mr Langbroek, who is also the Member for Surfers Paradise, said a
number of stallholders at markets on the Gold Coast were selling
similar products.

He said it was inappropriate for people to sell glass pipes used to
smoke crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice", when the
nation is in the grip of an ice epidemic.

However, he conceded the retailers were legally allowed to have them
on display, and blamed the Beattie Government for rejecting a recent
proposal to have them outlawed.

"In Victoria, NSW and South Australia, retailers now face hefty fines
and even jail for selling these types of pipes," he said.

"The rejection of my proposal was not only a hypocritical move by the
Beattie Government, but a move that puts potential young users at
Schoolies at risk, as ice use is reportedly on the rise."

Bongs and other utensils used for smoking cannabis are banned in
Queensland, however retailers often bypass the laws by advertising
them as tobacco-smoking implements or port sippers.