A draw tape bag comprising: (a) two panels formed from a thermoplastic material, the sides of said panels being joined on three sides and open on the fourth side to form a top in said bag; (b) a hem portion of each panel being folded over adjacent said top to form a tubular hem; (c) draw tapes in each tubular hem secured at said sides of said panels, said draw tapes being characterized as a multilayer structure having at least two layers wherein one layer is sealable to a panel and is characterized as having sealability to the thermal plastic panels greater than at least one of other layers of the draw tape and also characterized as having strength less than said other layer of the draw tape; (d) a seal between each hem portion and the adjacent panel across the width of said bag below said draw tape; and (e) an opening in said hem portion for accessing said draw tape.