The crackdown by the Australian government was announced amid concerns that a growing black market in vapes is fuelling a rise in child and adolescent vaping and nicotine addiction.
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.
However, there are a number of caveats to that statement. Vapes containing nicotine are illegal to import, buy, or sell unless they have been prescribed by a doctor, in accordance with the Therapeutic Goods Administration ruling of 2021. Nicotine itself is considered a “dangerous poison” and a Schedule 7 drug.
It appears that on May 2nd 2023 the Australian Government introduced a ban on “Recreational Vaping”. Also there will be minimum standards introduced and only Pharmacies will be able to stock vapes for those with a prescription.
It is an offence to attempt to obtain, or have a restricted substance, such as nicotine vaping liquid, in one's possession without a prescription. The maximum penalty applicable for a restricted substance, such as nicotine vaping liquid, is a $2,200 fine and/or 6 months imprisonment, pursuant to section 16.
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
Vaping devices
It is not illegal to possess or use a vaporiser (without nicotine) in all states and territories of Australia. However, it is illegal to sell a vaporiser in Western Australia. In some other states, there are restrictions on the sale of vaporisers that resemble cigarettes.
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.
Vaping is less harmful and cheaper than smoking, and can have a similar feel. Smoking is bad for your health as the toxins produced by burning tobacco cause smoking-related illnesses. The majority of health benefits are seen when you stop smoking completely.
Since 1 October 2021, all nicotine vaping products are prescription only medicines across all Australian States and Territories. It is illegal to import, buy or sell vape or e-liquid without a valid permit or prescription. Heavy penalties, including fines and imprisonments apply.
They breathe in addictive nicotine and dozens of dangerous chemicals. Research suggests that vaping may affect the way cells in the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs) react to germs and may increase the chance of disease and infection from bacteria and viruses, like the virus that causes COVID-19.
Short term health effects of vaping include nausea, vomiting, mouth and airway irritation, chest pain and palpitations. Vaping can expose the people around you to toxic chemicals.
Moreover, vaping increases the risk a teen will smoke regular cigarettes later. “The addiction to nicotine and later conversion to (or dual use with) regular cigarettes are the greatest concerns,” says Roy S. Herbst, MD, Yale Medicine's chief of medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center.
Carcinogens- chemicals known to cause cancer, including acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. Acrolein – a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds, can cause irreversible lung damage. Diacetyl – a chemical linked to a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans aka "popcorn lung"
An estimated 1,159,000 adults were current vapers (had vaped at least once in the last month). The survey found that 5.8% of all adult Australians vape and 12% had a prescription. In Victoria, 308,827 adults were current e-cigarette users in 2022 (vaped at least once in the last month).
A smoker typically puffs on a cigarette around 10-15 times before putting it out, so let's be conservative and estimate that puffing on a vape 15 times is approximately equal to smoking one cigarette. If that's the case, then a disposable vape that delivers 600 puffs is equal to about two packs of cigarettes.
“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.”
In 2019 in Australia, common reasons for using e-cigarettes among smokers included helping them to quit (46%), to cut down on cigarettes (38%), or to try and prevent relapse to smoking (25%). Using them out of curiosity was also one of the most common responses (42%).
Although the precise long term risks of vaping nicotine have not yet been established they are certain to be only a tiny fraction of those from smoking, which kills prematurely up to 2 in 3 long-term users. Based on this information, the estimate that vaping is 95% safer than smoker is a very reasonable guide.
Vaping was more common among males than females, and among older than younger students. Ever use of e-cigarettes was higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who had ever smoked cigarettes compared to never smokers.
Under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008 it is an offence to use an e-cigarette in a car with a child under 16 years of age in the vehicle. If a passenger is using an e-cigarette, the driver will also be liable.
The use of e-cigarettes with e-liquid containing nicotine with a valid prescription is legal. Vaping in indoor and outdoor smoke-free zones is illegal. Promotional advertising in retail stores of e-cigarettes is illegal, however, some vape stores are exempt from this law.
Vaping is illegal for those under 18 in Australia. It is also illegal to sell vaping products (with or without nicotine) to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Vaping nicotine is legal in Australia only with a GP's prescription.
History of vaping, smoking, or diet changes
The answer is “yes.” Your dentist can see signs in your mouth that you've been smoking or vaping without you telling them. These signs include: Dry mouth. Gum disease.