Legislation is being planned in Australia to ban the manufacture, advertising, and supply of disposable vapes. The country will also prohibit the import of single-use e-cigarettes starting next year, in an effort to crack down on the popularity of these nicotine products among youth.
Australia’s government has announced that the ban will go into effect on January 1 and that additional legislation will be introduced in 2024 to further restrict disposable vape products. Health officials in Australia have welcomed these measures, expressing concern that vapes have become a dangerous “recreational product” targeted at youth, despite being initially marketed as a tool to help smokers quit.
The Australian Medical Association commended the government’s actions as decisive and necessary. It was reported that about one in seven children aged 14-17 in Australia currently use vapes, and that there is substantial evidence linking vaping to an increased likelihood of youth taking up tobacco smoking.
Some experts have warned that vaping can serve as a gateway to tobacco use for young people, and have raised concerns about the long-term impact on public health. Despite the restrictions, Australia’s government has stated that it will introduce a scheme allowing doctors and nurses to prescribe vapes in clinically appropriate cases.
Australia has a history of aggressive anti-smoking measures, including introducing plain packaging laws for cigarettes in 2012 and implementing high taxes on tobacco products. However, neighboring New Zealand has recently made moves to reverse some of its anti-smoking policies, drawing criticism from public health advocates.