Recreational vaping will be banned in Australia as part of a major crackdown amid what experts say is an “epidemic”, and what the government describes as a public health threat.
Minimum quality standards will also be introduced, and the sale of vapes restricted to pharmacies.
Nicotine vapes already require a prescription in Australia, but the industry is poorly regulated and a black market is thriving, reports BBC.
Health Minister Mark Butler says the products are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts in Australia, having exploded in popularity as a recreational product, particularly among young people in cities.
“Just like they did with smoking… ‘Big Tobacco’ has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added sweet flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts,” Butler said in a speech announcing reforms this past week.
‘We have been duped’
Vapes are considered safer than normal cigarettes because they do not contain harmful tobacco. The UK Government is even handing them out free to some smokers in its “swop to stop” programme.
But health experts advise that vapes are not risk-free – they can often contain chemicals – and the long-term implications of using them are not yet clear.
The Australian Government argues they are a public health threat, disproportionately affecting young people, many of whom haven’t smoked before.
Research suggests one in six Australians aged 14-17-years-old has vaped, and one in four people aged 18-24.
“Only one in 70 people my age has vaped,” said Butler, who is 52.
He said the products are being deliberately targeted at kids and are readily available “alongside lollies and chocolate bars” in retail stores.
The Health Minister said the federal government would work with state and territory governments on potential penalties for possession of e-cigarettes unless they had been prescribed.
The reforms include a ban on all disposable vapes and a crackdown on the import of non-prescription products.
Scripts will be necessary for the vaping products that remain legal, and they will be required to have pharmaceutical-like packaging. Restrictions on flavours, colours, nicotine concentrations and other ingredients will also be introduced.
“No more bubble-gum flavours, pink unicorns or vapes disguised as highlighter pens for kids to hide in their pencil cases,” Butler said.
A handful of other countries, like Singapore and Thailand, have also banned vaping.
BBC article – Australia to ban recreational vaping in major public health move (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Survey shows that Australian teenagers have ready access to illegal vaping products
Anti-vaping research drowns out harm reduction advocates in Australia
Vaping raises chances of regular smoking threefold — Australian research review