Proposal to Raise Legal Smoking Age in South Australia

An independent political figure in South Australia has recently suggested raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products and banning people born after 2009 from smoking or buying tobacco-related products, as reported by MSN on June 21st.

The proposal will raise the legal age to purchase tobacco and smoking-related products (such as nicotine pouches) from 18 to 19, with the statutory age limit gradually increasing each year.

This bill also prohibits selling cigarettes through vending machines. Anyone found selling cigarettes to individuals under the age of 19 will face a maximum fine of $20,000 for the first offense and up to $40,000 for subsequent offenses.

The bill was introduced to the South Australian Parliament on Wednesday (19th) by independent MP Frank Pangallo. He referenced similar laws in the UK, noting that individuals aged 15 and below are not allowed to purchase cigarettes.

Panagalou said that this law will ultimately make smoking "a thing of the past" in South Australia.

The bill aims to significantly reduce the harm caused by tobacco and other smoking products that have been proven to be harmful. It provides us with an opportunity to control the substantial and increasing costs that smoking imposes on the health, social, economic, and financial well-being of South Australia, as well as overall quality of life and productivity.

South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton has said that the government will "consider" the legislative proposal for e-cigarettes, but at the same time, he also mentioned the need for the state to reduce e-cigarette usage among young people.

Smoking is our biggest preventable killer and cause of disease, so we should consider what we can do to reduce its impact. A key to ensuring we prevent young people from starting to smoke is to ban disposable e-cigarettes, which are leading many young people to become addicted to nicotine.