A ban on the sale of vapes has been in place in Australia since July to curb the circulation of non-therapeutic vapes. However, three months later, vapes are still widely circulated on the black market, and tobacco shops and convenience stores continue to sell them illegally. Health Minister Marco Butler said the government would take tougher action and illegal businesses would face prosecution.
Australia’s vape ban goes into effect for three months
On Sep 22, ABCNews reported that although Australia banned the sale of vapes three months ago, there are still tobacco shops and convenience stores illegally selling vapes. In response. Health Minister Mark Butler stressed that the government will take tougher action and illegal traders will soon face prosecution.
In July, Australia became the first country in the world to ban the sale of non-therapeutic vapes. Starting in October, adults will be able to buy vapes with a prescription from a pharmacy. The new rules prohibit non-pharmacy companies from importing, manufacturing, supplying, or advertising vapes. Offenders face fines of millions of dollars and up to seven years in prison. However, vapes are still widely circulated on the black market, and some businesses continue to sell them behind the scenes.
Illegal sales will face government prosecution
Butler mentioned on the TV show “The Insider” that some convenience stores and tobacco shops are violating the law and the government must take stronger measures. Currently, the federal government is working with state authorities to check, encourage retailers to submit vape inventory, and inform them of the content and consequences of the new law. However, this modest approach may be coming to an end. Butler warned that the government was ready to start prosecuting illegal businesses.
The government has long warned that a new generation of nicotine addicts will emerge if teenagers are not prevented from accessing vapes. According to data from 2023, youth ages 14 to 17 have absorbed nearly 10 percent of vapes, a five-fold increase from 2019. Smoking rates among 18 – to 24-year-olds also increased fourfold, to 21 percent, making them the first age group in 25 years to see an increase in the use of tobacco tar.
While the federal government initially wanted to ban the sale of all vapes without a prescription. The law eventually allowed adults to buy vapes at pharmacies starting in October. These vapes are specifically designed to help smokers and only provide the smell of menthol, menthol, or cigarettes. In contrast, illegally sold vapes offer a variety of sweet and fruity flavors.
The coalition will set up a task force
Opposition Health Minister Anne Ruston has accused the federal government’s vape laws and regulations of failing to protect children and turning them into a black market. She noted that a coalition government would establish a special task force led by the Australian Federal Police and Border Force to crack down on illegal vapes from the border to the shops.
Butler said the retail ban imposed on July 1 has started to show results, and some of the vape shops he chose have closed. He stressed that the original intention of introducing vapes is to help heavy smokers quit, but the reality is not so. It has induced a new generation to become addicted to tar. He decided to continue his efforts to protect the health of young Australians.
In January, the Australian government banned the import of most single-use vapes, and since then, more than 5 million illegal vapes have been seized at the border.
