NSW Teen Vaping Rates Decline Following Australia’s Tougher Vape Laws
After the New South Wales state government of Australia implemented stricter laws on vapes, the proportion of teenagers trying e-cigarettes decreased. The report shows that among the 14- to 17-year-old teenagers in New South Wales who participated in the survey, the proportion of those who had tried e-cigarettes dropped from 29.6% in April 2024 to 20.1% in October 2025.
Key Highlights
- The “Generation Vape” project indicates that the proportion of NSW teenagers aged 14 to 17 who have ever tried vaping fell from 29.6% in April 2024 to 20.1% in October 2025.
- This shift occurred after the NSW government implemented a retail ban on vapes in December 2024.
- The new regulations stipulate that vaping products may only be dispensed by pharmacies for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence management.
- The report also shows that the proportion of respondents who have used vapes more than 100 times dropped from 6.4% to 2.6%.
- Since its launch in February 2025, more than 10,000 young people have sought support to quit vaping through the Cancer Institute NSW’s “Pave” app.
Study Shows Decline in Teen Vaping in New South Wales
March 17, 2026 — According to a report from NSW, a new study from the Cancer Council’s “Generation Vape” research project reveals that the number of teenagers taking up vaping has decreased since the New South Wales government implemented strict vape laws.
“Generation Vape” Data Tracks Changing Teen Behavior
The latest results indicate that among the NSW teenagers surveyed as part of the “Generation Vape” project, the proportion who have ever tried vaping declined from 29.6% in April 2024 to 20.1% in October 2025.
Research Examines Usage, Access, and Perceptions
The report presents survey findings regarding vaping usage, access channels, and changes in perception among NSW teenagers aged 14 to 17 during the period from April 2024 to October 2025.
Retail Vape Ban Introduced by NSW Government
This decline follows the implementation of new laws by the Minns Labor Government in December 2024. This legislation prohibits the sale of vapes in retail outlets across New South Wales and stipulates that vape products may only be dispensed by pharmacies for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence management.
Tough Penalties for Illicit Vape and Tobacco Sales
New South Wales imposes some of the strictest penalties in the country for the illicit sale and commercial possession of tobacco, with further reforms introduced in July 2025 specifically targeting the sale of illicit tobacco and vape products. Under these laws, the maximum penalty for supplying illicit vape products now stands at A$1.54 million (approximately US$1.0472 million, based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD = 0.68 USD) and/or seven years of imprisonment.
Additional Findings from the “Generation Vape” Report
Other key findings regarding New South Wales from the latest “Generation Vape” report include: 88.2% of respondents reported having little (having taken only a few puffs) or no prior experience with vapes; the proportion of respondents who had used vapes more than 100 times declined from 6.4% to 2.6%; the likelihood of adolescents perceiving vape use as prevalent among their peers decreased; and the majority of adolescents agreed that vapes are unsafe and addictive.
