Vapes will be forced to grow up, under proposed laws designed to stop manufacturers from attracting children to the addictive behaviour.
Under new rules, e-cigarettes will only be sold in pharmacies, with the concentration and volume of nicotine reduced.
All single-use, disposable vapes will be banned, and non-prescription vapes will be illegal.
New rules will also insist the product only be dressed in ‘pharmaceutical-like’ packaging, with certain flavours and colours banned.
The measures form part of the 2023–24 Budget, which includes $737 million to fund a number of measures to protect Australians against the harm caused by tobacco and vaping products.
The Budget will consist of $63 million for a public health campaign designed to discourage Australians from taking up vaping and smoking and encourage more people to quit.
There will also be $30 million invested in support programs, education and training among health practitioners, with health authorities concerned young people will exchange vapes for cigarettes.
Health Minister Mark Butler said it was time to take strong action to reduce smoking and stamp out vaping – particularly among young Australians.
“Young people who vape are three times as likely to take up smoking. So is it any wonder that under 25s are the only cohort in the community currently recording an increase in smoking rates?” he said.
“Vaping is creating a whole new generation of nicotine dependency in our community.
“It poses a major threat to Australia’s success in tobacco control and the Albanese Government is not going to stand by and let this happen.”
Tougher laws he says are needed to remind Australians of the harms caused by vaping.
“Vaping was sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit,” Mr Butler said.
“It was not sold as a recreational product – especially not one targeted to our kids but that is what it has become.
“These reform measures will help protect the health of Australians, while reducing the pressure on our health system and critically it will help to achieve a reduction in smoking rates to 5% or less by 2030.”
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