2024-07-03 01:00:10
LETTER FROM SYDNEY
Stop selling electronic cigarettes, John (his first name has been changed), a tobacconist in Sydney, says he has no intention of doing so. This product represents almost half of its sales, it does not want “put the key under the door”. But, when he found out he was at risk of up to seven years in prison and a fine of 2.2 million Australian dollars (1.3 million euros), his convictions were doubted. Australia, a pioneer in the fight against smoking, adopted a new law on May 26, unique in the world and most importantly, to limit recreational vaping.
This provision, which came into force on July 1, reserves the sale of e-cigarettes only to pharmacies, establishes an unnecessary package, limits the supply to menthol or tobacco flavors, and requires customers to present themselves with a prescription, during the first three. month of the implementation of the law, so that “vapes” can be delivered to them.
For public health experts, this measure is important in a country where 7.1% of 18-24 year olds smoke, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics published in 2022, but where 49% have already tried vaping, a figure which has almost doubled in less than four years.
“Australia has one of the lowest daily smoking rates among OECD countries [Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques], but the new generation vape a lot. It has become a trend, activated by the color combination as well as great flavors like bubble gum or pink unicorns.regrets Simon Chapman, professor at the University of Sydney.
“Nobody wants a weed without nicotine”
To limit the risk of addiction, the authorities have banned the sale of puffs containing tobacco, outside pharmacies and without prescriptions. Then, as part of an anti-tobacco plan aimed at reducing the number of smokers to less than 5% of the population by 2030, they also strengthened their plan by limiting the import of disposable electronic cigarettes for single use in January , and by reducing the import of all other types, especially consumer goods, in March.
But illegal e-cigarettes continue to circulate clandestinely, including in well-established businesses, with owners getting their wares on the black market and selling them discreetly in undisclosed packages the presence of nicotine. “I tried to offer puffs without nicotine, made locally, but no one wanted them”confides one of them, on condition of anonymity.
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