Australia Bans Vape Sales Outside Pharmacies
The Facts
Australia has banned the production, sale, supply, and commercial possession of disposable and non-therapeutic vapes — with or without nicotine content.
Starting Monday (July 1), only pharmacies will be allowed to sell vapes to children and adults with a doctor’s prescription to buy a therapeutic vape.
The Spin
Narrative A
Vaping is increasingly becoming a gateway for youngsters to cigarettes. Besides highly addictive nicotine, vapes contain dangerous substances like diacetyl, formaldehyde, and acrolein, which are highly harmful to the lungs and heart. Consumers must be protected from the tobacco industry's misleading promotion of vapes as being safe.
Narrative B
This vaping ban is misguided and overly harsh. Unlike smoking, vaping — an alternative believed to be less harmful — is heavily demonized. While countries like New Zealand embrace vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, Australia's approach — even with its October loosening — merely drives the market underground, making it harder to control and pushing people toward illegal purchases.