Reports the dangerous `shag band’ trend has reached Tasmania demands a responsible stand by retailers, schools and the wider community, Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry said today.

``There are those who will dismiss the risk to children from this fad, arguing kids do not take the meaning of the bands seriously and consider them a joke,’’ Senator Parry said.

``But what is worrying is not so much that children will act on a snapped band, but that the raft of meanings and their name make them a discussion point in the school yard.

``And children should not be encouraged to be `educating’ their school mates – particularly younger ones – about sexual acts.

``The sexualisation of children is a growing social problem in our community, and these so-called `shag bands’ are another example of what parents are up against.’’

An advocate for action against child sexualisation, Senator Parry said every responsible adult had a role to play.

``In this case, if `shag bands’ are becoming fashionable among our children, then local retailers would likely be aware of that and the reason why,’’ he said.

``Responsible retailers would remove these items from their shelves.

``Similarly, I would also urge the state’s Education Department not to leave the issue to individual schools but adopt a proactive and overarching policy of banning `shag bands’ from all school grounds in Tasmania.’