Melbourne Club Introduces Lifetime Bans For Drug Users

Victorian dance club Poof Doof has introduced a zero-tolerance policy with regard to punters caught in possession of the drugs GHB and "Ice" (methamphetamine), with red-handed party-goers facing irreversible lifetime bans.

Venue organisers broke the news on its Facebook this week, saying that they had "decided to take action" in the wake of the drugs' effects on the community, effecting the bans via the ScanTek security identification system, which is installed across about 60 venues in the city, and more than 100 Australia-wide — and yes, the bans will apply to all ScanTek-enabled businesses, so it could properly kneecap a guilty punter's future entertainment prospects.

"Far be it from us to tell you what to do — we're not the fun police," venue organisers wrote, "but we are putting our foot down with regards to what goes on whilst you're all in our care on Saturday nights.

"Any Doofer caught with these substances inside Poof Doof will be banned for life via the ScanTek security system. This means that individual will also be banned for life at all other ScanTek venues (of which there are around 60+ including Trak, Crown, Tramp, Inflation etc.)."

The statement concludes with a concrete affirmation of the venue's position — "Make no mistake: we are serious. And the lifetime bans will be irreversible."

The club that hosts Poof Doof, Chasers, has had ID scanners in place for several years, and although lifetime bans have also been a potential punishment for serious breaches of club rules/Australian law, this is the first such time the club has publicly drawn a zero-tolerance line on the issue — at least partially in response to a perceived lack of action from Victorian police.

"As the owner of the venue, ID scanners have been in place since 2006. The very few people who make bad choices and my staff are left to deal with traumatic situations, the consequence is a lifetime ban, which has always been in place," Chasers owner Martha Tsamis clarified of the policy.

"Since Ice has been a big topical issue in the community, this is a reminder of how Chasers Nightclub stance is on this topic [sic].

"In order for all staff and patrons to continue having a great night and safe night, please be careful in the choices you make," she continued.

"We are not sure why the drug issue has been allowed to grow to such a level but this is what our plan is, as the authorities don't seem to be saying much about their plan."

The first zero-tolerance iteration of Poof Doof hits Chasers Nightclub this weekend. Check the venue's Facebook page for more information.