[1]Skip to main content
   [2]Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market
   professionalsLearn more about
   [3]Reuters home
     * [4]World (BUTTON)
     * [5]Business (BUTTON)
     * [6]Markets (BUTTON)
     * [7]Legal (BUTTON)
     * [8]Breakingviews (BUTTON)
     * [9]Technology (BUTTON)
     * [10]Investigations
     * [11]Sports (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON) More

   (BUTTON) My View
   (BUTTON)
   [12]Register
   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
     *
     *
     *
     *
     *

   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON)

     * [13]Future of Health (BUTTON)

   4 minute readMay 2, 202310:56 AM UTCLast Updated ago

Australia to ban recreational vaping in e-cigarette crackdown

   By [14]Renju Jose (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
     *
     *
     *
     *
     *

   (BUTTON)
   (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON)
     * (BUTTON)

   SYDNEY, May 2 (Reuters) - Australia said on Tuesday it will ban
   recreational vaping and tighten other aspects of e-cigarette laws in
   the biggest crackdown on the tobacco industry in more than a decade to
   try to stop an alarming rise in teenage vaping.

   The government aims to ban all disposable vapes, which often comes in
   fruity flavours, ban the import of non-prescription vapes and limit
   nicotine levels, aiming for the sale of vapes to be confined to helping
   smokers quit.

   "Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another
   addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to
   create a new generation of nicotine addicts," Health Minister Mark
   Butler said in a speech at the National Press Club.

   Vaping, widely seen as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and
   useful for helping smokers quit, involves heating a liquid that
   contains nicotine in what is called an e-cigarette and turning it into
   a vapour that users inhale.

   But studies have shown the potential of long-term harm from the
   addictive e-cigarettes.

   Under the new rules, vapes will be sold only in pharmacies and require
   "pharmaceutical-type" packaging. Disposable vapes popular with young
   people will also be banned.

   Though a prescription is needed to buy nicotine vapes in Australia, lax
   border enforcement and a thriving illegal market mean they are readily
   available in convenience stores and other outlets.

   Major vape manufacturer Philip Morris [15](PM.N) welcomed the crackdown
   on such shops.

   "Nicotine vaping products sold in corner stores have always been
   illegal," a spokesperson for the company said.

   "We have been urging enforcement against these illegal products for
   several years and hope this will now happen."

   Butler said vaping had become a recreational product in Australia,
   mostly sold to teenagers and young people, who are three times as
   likely to take up smoking.
   Saleswoman holds e-cigarette at Vape Shop in Beijing
   A saleswoman holds an e-cigarette as she demonstrates vaping at the
   Vape Shop that sells e-cigarette products in Beijing, China January 30,
   2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

   "This is a product targeted at our kids, sold alongside lollies and
   chocolate bars," Butler said. "Vaping has now become the number one
   behavioural issue in high schools. And it's becoming widespread in
   primary schools as well."

TOUGH ON SMOKING

   Doctors backed the vaping crackdown but urged the government to do more
   to limit the number of young people taking it up.

   "Nicotine vaping products are being sold featuring colourful flavours
   and we have even seen products featuring the same type of imagery as
   children's breakfast cereal including cartoon characters," said Nicole
   Higgins, president of the Royal Australian College of General
   Practitioners.

   About 22% of Australians aged 18-24 have used an e-cigarette or vaping
   device at least once, data last year showed.

   The federal budget, due out next week, will include A$234 million ($155
   million) for measures to protect against the harm caused by tobacco and
   vaping.

   Australia has one of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world.

   In 2012, it became the first country to force cigarette producers to
   abandon distinct, colourful branding and sell their products in
   uniformly drab packets.

   Tobacco firms were quick to switch to e-cigarettes that offer different
   flavours and created designs targeting a new generation of users.

   Butler said the government had no plan to follow neighbouring New
   Zealand in banning cigarette sales for [16]future generations but said
   the tax on tobacco would be raised by 5% a year over the next three
   years in a bid to curb sales.

   [17]Some countries have tried to restrict vaping and some see it as a
   good way to get smokers to kick the habit.

   Britain said in April up to one million smokers would be encouraged to
   [18]swap cigarettes for vapes, in what was a world first, offering
   financial incentives for pregnant women and providing e-cigarette
   starter kits to help.
   Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul
   (BUTTON)
     *
     *
     *
     *
     *

   Our Standards: [19]The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read Next

     * A baby receives the Rotavirus vaccination at Fort Portal Regional
       Referral Hospital
       [20]Future of Healthcategory[21]Exclusive: Rotavirus childhood
       vaccine shortage hits four African countriesAugust 11, 2022
     * Illustration shows Valneva logo
       [22]Future of Healthcategory[23]Climate change puts Lyme disease in
       focus for France's Valneva after COVID blowAugust 8, 2022
     * Signage is seen outside of FDA headquarters in White Oak, Maryland
       [24]Future of Healthcategory[25]U.S. FDA declines to approve
       expanded use of Acadia's antipsychotic drugAugust 5, 2022
     * Illustration of COVID-19 vaccine vial
       [26]Future of Healthcategory[27]CanSinoBIO's inhaled COVID booster
       stronger against BA.1 Omicron subvariant than Sinovac shotJuly 29,
       2022

   refinitiv_image_desktop

[28]World

     * Members of Avaaz, a global web movement, protest in front of
       National Congress using backpacks to represent victims of school
       massacres lost due to lack of laws in the virtual world, in
       Brasilia
       [29]Brazil orders Google to curb campaign against 'fake news
       law'[30]Americascategory · May 2, 2023 · 5:58 PM UTC
       The Brazilian government objected on Tuesday to Google LLC
       campaigning against an internet regulation bill to crack down on
       fake news and ordered the U.S. company to change a link on its
       search engine in Brazil.
     * Former ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns at Senate Foreign
       Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be the U.S.
       Ambassador to China, on Capitol Hill in Washington
       [31]Worldcategory[32]US concerned by China's 'punitive' actions
       toward American firms3:12 PM UTC
     * Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni wants trade barriers to come
       down, in Kisozi
       [33]Africacategory[34]Uganda parliament passes harsh anti-LGBTQ
       bill mostly unchanged6:17 PM UTC
     * Nationwide protest over cost of living and President William Ruto's
       government in Nairobi
       [35]Africacategory[36]Kenyan anti-government protests resume with
       police firing tear gas3:26 PM UTC
     * U.S. President Joe Biden holds event marking National Small
       Business Week at the White House in Washington
       [37]United Statescategory[38]Biden will talk budget but won't
       negotiate debt ceiling in Congress meeting6:46 PM UTC

Site Index

Browse

     * [39]World
     * [40]Business
     * [41]Legal
     * [42]Markets
     * [43]Breakingviews
     * [44]Technology
     * [45]Investigations, opens new tab
     * [46]Lifestyle

About Reuters

     * [47]About Reuters, opens new tab
     * [48]Careers, opens new tab
     * [49]Reuters News Agency, opens new tab
     * [50]Brand Attribution Guidelines, opens new tab
     * [51]Reuters Leadership, opens new tab
     * [52]Reuters Fact Check, opens new tab
     * [53]Reuters Diversity Report, opens new tab

Stay Informed

     * [54]Download the App, opens new tab
     * [55]Newsletters, opens new tab

Information you can trust

   Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s
   largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide
   every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and
   international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's
   media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Follow Us

     *
     *
     *
     *
     *

Thomson Reuters Products

     * [56]Westlaw, opens new tab
       Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content,
       attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology.
     * [57]Onesource, opens new tab
       The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and
       ever-expanding tax and compliance needs.
     * [58]Checkpoint, opens new tab
       The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and
       finance professionals.

Refinitiv Products

     * [59]Refinitiv Workspace, opens new tab
       Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a
       highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile.
     * [60]Refinitiv Data Catalogue, opens new tab
       Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market
       data and insights from worldwide sources and experts.
     * [61]Refinitiv World-Check, opens new tab
       Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help
       uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks.

     * [62]Advertise With Us, opens new tab
     * [63]Advertising Guidelines, opens new tab

     * [64]Cookies, opens new tab
     * [65]Terms of Use, opens new tab
     * [66]Privacy, opens new tab
     * [67]Digital Accessibility, opens new tab
     * [68]Corrections, opens new tab
     * [69]Site Feedback, opens new tab

   All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. [70]See here for a complete
   list of exchanges and delays.

   © 2023 Reuters. [71]All rights reserved

References

   Visible links
   1. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-ban-recreational-vaping-e-cigarette-crackdown-2023-05-02/#main-content
   2. https://www.reuters.com/differentiator/
   3. https://www.reuters.com/
   4. https://www.reuters.com/world/
   5. https://www.reuters.com/business/
   6. https://www.reuters.com/markets/
   7. https://www.reuters.com/legal/
   8. https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/
   9. https://www.reuters.com/technology/
  10. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/
  11. https://www.reuters.com/sports/
  12. https://www.reuters.com/account/register/sign-up/
  13. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/
  14. https://www.reuters.com/authors/renju-jose/
  15. https://www.reuters.com/companies/PM.N
  16. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-bans-future-generations-buying-tobacco-under-new-laws-2022-12-13/
  17. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-adds-e-cigarettes-tobacco-monopoly-law-2021-11-26/
  18. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-encourage-smokers-swap-cigarettes-vapes-2023-04-10/
  19. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/about-us/trust-principles.html
  20. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/
  21. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-rotavirus-childhood-vaccine-shortage-hits-four-african-countries-2022-08-10/
  22. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/
  23. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/climate-change-puts-lyme-disease-focus-frances-valneva-after-covid-blow-2022-08-08/
  24. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/
  25. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/us-fda-declines-approve-expanded-use-acadias-antipsychotic-drug-2022-08-05/
  26. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/
  27. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cansinobios-inhaled-covid-booster-stronger-against-ba1-omicron-subvariant-than-2022-07-29/
  28. https://www.reuters.com/world/
  29. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-lawmakers-vote-controversial-bill-clean-up-social-media-2023-05-02/
  30. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/
  31. https://www.reuters.com/world/
  32. https://www.reuters.com/world/us-concerned-by-chinas-punitive-actions-toward-american-firms-2023-05-02/
  33. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/
  34. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/uganda-parliament-passes-mostly-unchanged-version-anti-lgbtq-bill-2023-05-02/
  35. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/
  36. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyan-anti-government-protests-resume-with-police-firing-tear-gas-2023-05-02/
  37. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/
  38. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-will-talk-budget-wont-negotiate-debt-ceiling-congress-meeting-white-house-2023-05-02/
  39. https://www.reuters.com/world/
  40. https://www.reuters.com/business/
  41. https://www.reuters.com/legal/
  42. https://www.reuters.com/markets/
  43. https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/
  44. https://www.reuters.com/technology/
  45. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/
  46. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/
  47. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/about/about-us/
  48. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/careers.html
  49. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=reuters&utm_campaign=site-referral&utm_content=us&utm_term=0
  50. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/about/about-us/brand-attribution-guidelines/
  51. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/about/leadership-team/
  52. https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/
  53. https://www.reuters.com/DiversityReportApril2022
  54. https://www.reuters.com/tools/mobile/us
  55. https://reuters.com/newsletters/
  56. https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/westlaw
  57. https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/en/onesource
  58. https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/en/checkpoint
  59. https://www.refinitiv.com/en/products/refinitiv-workspace
  60. https://www.refinitiv.com/en/financial-data
  61. https://www.refinitiv.com/en/products/world-check-kyc-screening
  62. https://www.reutersagency.com/en/services/advertising-solutions/
  63. https://www.reuters.com/info-pages/advertising-guidelines/
  64. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/privacy-statement.html#cookies
  65. https://www.reuters.com/info-pages/terms-of-use/
  66. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/privacy-statement.html
  67. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/policies/digital-accessibility-policy.html
  68. https://www.reuters.com/info-pages/contact-us/
  69. https://trdigital.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kte8gArGyCGVhz
  70. https://www.reuters.com/info-pages/disclaimer/
  71. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/policies/copyright.html

   Hidden links:
  73. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-rotavirus-childhood-vaccine-shortage-hits-four-african-countries-2022-08-10/
  74. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/climate-change-puts-lyme-disease-focus-frances-valneva-after-covid-blow-2022-08-08/
  75. https://www.reuters.com/business/future-of-health/us-fda-declines-approve-expanded-use-acadias-antipsychotic-drug-2022-08-05/
  76. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cansinobios-inhaled-covid-booster-stronger-against-ba1-omicron-subvariant-than-2022-07-29/
  77. https://www.refinitiv.com/en/products/refinitiv-workspace
  78. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-lawmakers-vote-controversial-bill-clean-up-social-media-2023-05-02/
  79. https://www.reuters.com/world/us-concerned-by-chinas-punitive-actions-toward-american-firms-2023-05-02/
  80. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/uganda-parliament-passes-mostly-unchanged-version-anti-lgbtq-bill-2023-05-02/
  81. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyan-anti-government-protests-resume-with-police-firing-tear-gas-2023-05-02/
  82. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-will-talk-budget-wont-negotiate-debt-ceiling-congress-meeting-white-house-2023-05-02/
  83. https://www.twitter.com/Reuters
  84. https://www.facebook.com/Reuters
  85. https://www.instagram.com/Reuters
  86. https://www.youtube.com/user/ReutersVideo
  87. https://www.linkedin.com/company/10256858/