2023-05-02 04:30:47
Australia has long had a proactive policy of eradicating smoking and, after the traditional pack of cigarettes, it is vaping that is now in the sights of health authorities.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler announced tough measures to curb vaping on Tuesday (May 2) in what is being billed as the country’s biggest anti-smoking reform in a decade. Canberra will ban single-use electronic cigarettes, stop imports of non-prescription versions and restrict the amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes will only be authorized on prescription, as an aid to quit smoking. “Vaping has been sold to governments and the world as a therapeutic product to help long-time smokers quit”said Butler. “It was not sold as a recreational product, and especially not for our children”.
Explosion of vaping among teens
In recent years, Australia has struggled to contain the explosion of vaping, particularly among teenagers. “Vaping has become the number one behavioral problem in high schools. And it is spreading in primary schools”said the minister.
“As with tobacco, the world’s biggest companies in the industry have taken another addictive product, wrapped it in glitzy packaging and added flavors to create a new generation of nicotine addicts”he added.
Australia became, in 2012, the first country to impose the “neutral” cigarette package, a policy copied since by many countries. Due to high taxes on tobacco sales, Australian cigarettes are among the most expensive in the world, with a pack of 25 selling for around 50 Australian dollars (30 euros).
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing, the country has one of the lowest daily smoking rates in the world, but the number of young people under 25 starting to smoke has increased.
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