Vape shops could close as government eyes sales ban

The government has already banned the importation of single-use vapes. From tomorrow, more restrictions are set to come into effect, including an importation ban on all vapes without a licence.

More than 360,000 vapes worth almost $11 million have been seized by the Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed yesterday that e-cigarette use was most common among 18- to 24-year-olds, increasing substantially from 5.3% in 2019 to 21% in 2022-23.

Older Australians were the most likely to smoke tobacco and younger people were more likely to vape, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022-2023 of more than 21,000 people found.

Overall, vaping among those aged 14 and over increased from 2.5% in 2019 to 7% in 2022-23.

Health minister Mark Butler said he is now targeting vape shops.

“Nine out of 10 vape stores around Australia are located within walking distance of schools … their target market are school children and very young Australians,” he said.

Asked when he wanted to see vape shops shutter, he said the government would introduce another tranche of legislation but needed the support of the opposition.

“We’re aiming to have this enforced on the first of July, but that of course is subject to the passage of the legislation through Parliament,” Butler said.

“I do call on Peter Dutton to take a constructive view about this.

“He made some encouraging noises when we first announced this, he recognised this is a serious concern among parents and school communities,  but we haven’t yet got an indication about their willingness to support our legislation.”

In coming months, the government is also expected to introduce legislation preventing the domestic manufacture, advertisement, supply and commercial possession of non-therapeutic and disposable single-use vapes.

On Wednesday, Butler also revealed $250,000 had been allocated to partnerships with Spotify and influencers to lead Labor’s new youth anti-vaping campaign.

Many – like TikTok comedians Jaxon and Lachlan Fairbairn, cricketer Ellyse Perry and gamer JackBuzza – already have significant followings, particularly amongst the age demographics most likely to pick up vaping, and the health minister hopes they will help spark conversation about the use of e-cigarettes.

“We’ve got to use the media that young people are using and increasingly that is Tiktok, that is YouTube and that is Instagram,” he said.

Pro-vaping content plagues the corners of the internet frequented by young people.

According to government data, TikTok hosts more than 18 billion vape posts – many of which show content creators doing “vape tricks”.

Instagram is similarly home to more than 18,000 influencers dedicated to pro-vaping content.

“We know that a lot of our peers vape, so it’s important to us that we support a campaign that will educate people on the harms of vaping and help them seek support if they want it,” Fairbairn said.

Actress Ella Watkins, surfers Zahlia and Shyla Short, diver Sam Fricker, businesswoman Lottie Dalziel and Twitch streamer HeyImZed are also part of the government’s campaign.