BALLARAT teenagers crazy for the latest body art or piercing fad will face tougher restrictions under new laws to be introduced next year. From January 2009, minors will be banned from having their nipples and genitals pierced.They will also need their parents permission for other forms of piercing. Under-18s will also be barred from tattoos, tongue splitting, branding and beading. And under-16s will need parental consent for non-intimate body piercing. In the past, restrictions haven't always stopped some teenagers trying to test their luck according to some Ballarat tattoo and piercing studios. Ballarat tattooist Jed Hill of Jed Hill Tattoo and Body Piercing said the studio stopped piercing altogether for a period of time because it was difficult to monitor ages when the studio got busy. But he said they were now offering bookings for piercings one day a week. "Everybody's got to be over 18 or with their parents," he said."We need to see a licence or form of ID".In Mr Hill's experience the most popular piercing requests in Ballarat were for tongues and navels. He said during the past 10 years he had only performed six intimate piercings. "A lot of younger people wanted it done, but they were rejected," he said. Tatts for the Memory owner Kay Stevenson said her studio had not pierced anyone under 16 without their parent's consent.She said they also did not do genital piercing or flesh piercing.Ms Stevenson said she supported the new laws but believed the industry needed to be more tightly regulated. She said those considering having a tattoo needed to be wary of people who were inexperienced or had only completed 24-hour courses.