No more vapes. Government at war over youth health
The Australian government is taking another step towards keeping the lungs of children and young people healthy. Starting January, it will no longer be possible to purchase disposable vapes in the country.
More countries are taking steps to minimise nicotine smoking among their citizens, with a particular focus on children and young people. In the UK, King Charles III has recently called for a law banning the sale of nicotine and tobacco products to people born after 1 January 2009. Not all countries are as radical, but the issue of keeping lungs healthy is being looked at by more and more governments around the world.
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Australia to ban vapes sales
The Australian government has introduced new legislation that will see a ban on advertising, sale and imports of disposable vapes from 1 January 2024. The change is expected to lead to the complete elimination of recreational vaping, the BBC reports.
Vaping was initially advertised in Australia as an effective method to quit smoking, but Australia’s health minister Mark Butler believes vaping has created "new generations of nicotine dependency".
From 2021, no person in Australia was be able to purchase or import vapes without a doctor's prescription. However, this legislation is not clear-cut, leaving a sizable grey zone where doctors may prescribe vapes without clear medical indications. Despite this legislation, addiction rates have continued to increase, prompting the government to change the law again.
The end of teenage addiction
A study conducted at the University of Sydney in 2023 indicated that more than a quarter of teenagers aged 14-17 had vaped. In contrast, research by the Australian Cancer Council charity proved that nine out of ten teenagers aged 14-17 had easy access to disposable vapes.
"All Australian governments are committed to working together to stop the disturbing growth in vaping among our young people," Mark Butler, the federal health minister who is spearheading the ban, told the BBC.
From 1 January 2024, importers and manufacturers supplying therapeutic vapes will have to comply with stricter regulations on nicotine levels, flavours and packaging of products sold as medical devices.
The researchers note that there are currently no studies addressing the health effects of long-term vaping. Research from Johns Hopkins University has linked vaping to chronic lung disease and asthma.
Source: BBC
