Concerns about young Australians vaping have led to tighter regulation over access to the devices, with a slew of legal changes coming into force throughout 2024. or signup to continue reading The newest rules, to take effect on October 1, seek to balance protection of young people with vape use as a tool to give up smoking. Under these changes, pharmacists will be allowed to supply low strength vapes to adults without a prescription.
Under-18s will still need a prescription to buy vapes from a pharmacy, as will adults needing a higher dose. Despite vapes' prevalence, many Australians don't fully understand why they're controversial, where adolescents are getting them, or even if they're safe. Here's what to know about these controversial products and if the new laws are likely to work.
While vaping emerged in Australia around 2007, vapes have become . Vapes with nicotine have never been legal to buy in Australia without a prescription. Only pharmacists and medical practitioners have been able to legally supply nicotine vapes.
It was, however, legal to buy and sell vapes that didn't contain nicotine in most of Australia until July 1, 2024. Before that retailers (such as vape shops and convenience stores) could sell nicotine-free vapes under similar conditions that apply to selling tobacco products, such as no sales to minors. However, many retailers supplied -- and some continue to supply -- nicotine-containing vapes illegally.
Some even have been found selling them to minors.
