Australia’s Health Minister: Teen Vaping Rates Drop Sharply, Over 10 Million Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized in a Year

Key Points:

·The proportion of Australian teenagers aged 14 to 17 who use e-cigarettes has decreased from 17.5% to 14.6%. 

·In the past year, Australian officials have confiscated over 10 million illegal e-cigarettes. 

·The government will ban disposable e-cigarettes starting in July 2024, and e-cigarettes containing nicotine will require a prescription to purchase. 

·The Health Minister stated that education and prevention measures have been effective, but further efforts are needed to combat the illegal tobacco market.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by the BBC on July 16th, the proportion of Australian teenagers using e-cigarettes is on the decline. Research shows that one year after the government banned disposable e-cigarettes, the percentage of teenagers using e-cigarettes has decreased. According to the latest data from the Australian Cancer Council's national study "Generation Vape", the proportion of teenagers aged 14 to 17 using e-cigarettes has dropped from 17.5% in early 2023 to 14.6% in April of this year. The survey also found that the proportion of those aged 15 and above using e-cigarettes has decreased by over one third.

The Australian Health Minister Mark Butler has stated that there has been a "tipping point" in the rates of young Australians using e-cigarettes, and added that officials have seized over 10 million illegal e-cigarettes in the past year. In a statement, he said, "Our education and prevention efforts, as well as support for people to quit or never start smoking, are having an impact.

Australia introduced new laws in July 2024 banning the manufacture, import, advertising, and supply of disposable e-cigarettes in the country. Now, e-cigarettes containing nicotine can only be legally purchased with a prescription at pharmacies. However, a black market for nicotine e-cigarettes has existed in the country for many years.

The UK will also begin prohibiting the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in June 2025.

E-cigarettes are considered to be safer than traditional cigarettes because they do not contain harmful tobacco, but health experts advise that they are not without risks and the long-term impact of using them is still unclear.

Australian authorities, like those in the UK, are particularly concerned about the acceptance of e-cigarettes among teenagers. Mr. Butler believes that these products are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.

The latest "Generation Vape" survey found that 85.4% of teenagers aged 14 to 17 have never tried an e-cigarette among approximately 3000 children. Less than a third of teenagers expressed interest in vaping e-cigarettes, with the Cancer Society stating that this indicates a decrease in curiosity towards these products.

Researchers say that attitudes towards e-cigarettes are changing among teenagers. They point out that many current or former e-cigarette users expressed feeling ashamed or embarrassed about their use during interviews.

Despite a decreasing number of teens reporting that they are able to purchase e-cigarettes on their own, tobacco and e-cigarette stores remain the primary source of e-cigarette sales.

On July 16th, Mr. Butler stated in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he believes Australia has passed the peak of the e-cigarette craze. He said:

"I know this is a very challenging struggle, and we have more work to do not only in the e-cigarette industry, but also in illegal tobacco."