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Govt introduces legislation on drink spiking

Posted October 8, 2008 08:28:00
Updated October 8, 2008 08:33:00

 Rob Hulls says the bill should make clubs safer.

Four out of five victims of drink spiking are female. (ABC TV)

The Victorian Government hopes new laws covering the spiking of drinks will make nightclubs safer for young people.

A bill making it an offence to spike a person's drink with alcohol or drugs, regardless of whether it is consumed, will be introduced into the Victorian Parliament today.

The Attorney-General Rob Hulls says a maximum two year jail term should act as a strong deterrent and make going out to pubs and clubs safer, particularly for women.

"Four out of five victims are female. About half of reported drink spiking victims are under the age of 24 and one-third of all drink spiking incidents are associated with sexual assault," he said.

"It will not require the spiked food or drink to be consumed nor that a person's senses or understanding actually be impaired. Just the fact of a spiking itself could well be enough to constitute the offence," he said.

Tags: government-and-politics, state-parliament, health, drug-use, law-crime-and-justice, police, alcohol, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

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