What about the vaping ban already in place? Preston says the surge in Australian vapers is disappointing given the federal government, in 2021, already banned the possession and sale of all (non-prescription) electronic cigarettes containing nicotine.
All single-use, disposable vapes will be banned. The reforms aim to make it easier for smokers wanting to quit tobacco smoking to get a prescription and to understand the contents of the vaping products they then buy.
It is illegal to sell, supply or possess an e-cigarette or any liquid that contains nicotine in Australia without a doctor's prescription.
Can I and use a vape or e-liquids containing nicotine in Australia? Possession of a vaping product containing nicotine is illegal and carries penalties and fines in all states and territories with the exception of Tasmania without a valid prescription provided by a doctor.
Travellers arriving in Australia
You do not need a permit to bring in tobacco products to Australia as a traveller. You are allowed to bring in duty-free: one unopen packet of up to 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of other tobacco products; and. one open packet of cigarettes.
Vaping is unfortunately treated the same as cigarettes in Australia and across the globe, even worse in some countries. While you can bring your vape on a plane, they must be carried in with you or in your carry-on luggage.
Possession or use without a prescription is illegal in all states and territories (except South Australia). It is also illegal to import nicotine e-cigarette products and refills from overseas, without a valid doctor's prescription.
It argues vaping product liquids regularly contain harmful, improperly labelled ingredients — including nicotine in non-nicotine vapes — and 31 per cent of registered products have prohibited ingredients in concentrations exceeding the legal limit.
The NSW Population Health Survey estimated that in 2021, 16.2% of adults had ever used e-cigarettes and 5.5% were current (daily or occasional) users. In 2020–21, use of e-cigarettes was highest among persons aged 16-24 years, for both ever use (32.7%) and current use (11.1%).
The long-term effects of vaping are unknown but vaping has been estimated to be at least 95% less harmful than smoking. Colin Mendelsohn was a Sydney GP for 27 years with a special interest in smoking cessation and now works exclusively in tobacco treatment, helping smokers to quit.
Before the pandemic, 2019, 26 per cent of young adults aged between 18 and 24 years had tried vaping. This has almost doubled to 48 per cent in 2023. Of teenagers aged 13 to 17, 14 per cent had used a vape before in 2017. Fast-forward six years to 2023, and one in three teenagers have tried vaping.
When vapes were first introduced in New Zealand, they were widely available to teenagers. Government reforms introduced in 2020 banned sales to under-18s, prohibited vaping at schools and early childhood centres and prohibited vape advertising and sponsorship.
It is illegal for retailers (other than pharmacies) to sell e-cigarettes or e-liquids that contain nicotine, including online sales. E-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine are legal in NSW. Adults can buy and use e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine.
Head to their website quitclincs.com. An Australian doctor will review your forms and contact you within one business day. All QuitClinics doctors are passionate about helping smokers quit and are TGA Authorised Prescribers of nicotine/vaping products. You'll receive an electronic prescription within 24 hours.
Qantas Prohibited items
Ee-cigarettes and other personal vaping devices are prohibited in carry-on luggage but can go in your checked bag under the plane.
Most aircraft smoke detectors can't differentiate between vapour and smoke. If you vape in the toilets, the smoke detector will go off. This raises in alarm in the flight deck and has to be investigated by the Cabin Crew.
E-Liquid Shipping to Australia
You can legally order up to 3 months' worth of E-Liquids containing nicotine for your personal supply. We calculate the shipping price based on the weight of your order.
Much like smoking, vaping can make your teeth yellow. Nicotine in e-cigarettes can cause teeth to become deeply stained.
Most airlines allow you to take between 15 to 20 disposable devices, so long as they are safely sealed and stored in your hand luggage, but it is worth checking before you fly. UK airlines state the following: British Airways allows up to 15 lithium-ion/metal batteries to be transported in your hand luggage.
The liquid solution varies in composition but is usually propylene or vegetable glycol based and can be combined with other ingredients and flavours. E-cigarettes with or without nicotine are legal in Canada.
Singapore does not allow vapes to be brought into the country, while Bhutan and Turkmenistan impose fines. Qatar, like Thailand, has banned vaping since 2014 with vapers facing three months in prison or nearly $2,500 fine. In Türkiye, it is not illegal to vape but it is still illegal to purchase.
There are 35 countries that have regulations or bans on vaping, with Thailand having some of the strictest laws that can see you jailed up to 10 years over the act, The Sun reports. Tourists who are on holiday in Colombia or Iran won't be able to vape in public spaces because it's illegal.
Newer devices on the market in NSW have up to 4,000 puffs on the device and high nicotine concentrations which can equate to up to 20 packs of cigarettes nicotine equivalent.
“We also observed that when patients ceased vaping, they had a partial reversal of the condition over one to four years, though not complete due to residual scarring in the lung tissue.”