Are Australia’s Vaping Laws Working? What the Latest Data Tells Us

Are Australia’s Vaping Laws Working? What the Latest Data Tells Us

Australia has some of the strictest vaping regulations in the world, introduced to reduce nicotine addiction and protect young people. But new data is raising an important question: are these laws helping people quit—or unintentionally pushing vaping underground?

At Quit Hero, we believe understanding how these laws work in practice is essential for anyone trying to quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence safely.

Vaping in Australia: The Current Picture

It’s estimated that around 1.7 million Australian adults use vaping products. Despite major legal reforms, vaping remains widespread, and most products consumed in Australia are still believed to be obtained illegally.

While legal access now exists through pharmacies for smoking cessation purposes, uptake through this pathway has been far lower than expected.

Pharmacy Access: Lower Than Anticipated

Since October 2024, adults aged 18 and over have been able to access low-strength therapeutic vapes (20 mg/mL or less) from participating pharmacies without a prescription, under strict conditions.

However, data from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) shows that up to late May 2025, only around 40,000 notifications had been lodged nationwide. This works out to fewer than 200 legally supplied non-prescription vapes per day across Australia.

In contrast, millions of illegal vapes continue to be seized each year, highlighting a significant gap between legal access and real-world behaviour.

Why Is Legal Access Struggling?

Healthcare professionals point to several barriers:

  • Limited availability of pharmacies willing or able to supply therapeutic vapes

  • Few authorised prescribers, making prescriptions harder to obtain when needed

  • Inconsistent state laws, meaning access differs depending on where someone lives

  • Reluctance among pharmacists and doctors, driven by concerns about safety, regulation complexity, and lack of full medicine approval

As a result, many people find the legal pathway difficult and may turn to illegal suppliers instead.

Clear Support Through Legal Pathways

From Quit Hero’s perspective, these challenges help explain why many people feel uncertain or overwhelmed when trying to quit through legal pathways. Regulations are complex, access can vary by location, and it isn’t always clear where to turn for trustworthy support.

That’s where Quit Hero exists to help. Our role is to support people in navigating lawful, regulated quitting options, connecting them with appropriate care, and helping them understand what’s available—clearly and safely. By focusing on education, guidance, and healthcare-backed pathways, we aim to make quitting feel less confusing and more achievable.

Most importantly, we want people to feel supported and safe—not rushed, judged, or pushed toward risky or illegal products. Quitting smoking is already challenging, and it shouldn’t be made harder by uncertainty or lack of access.

The Hidden Risks of Illegal Vaping

Illegal or unregulated vaping products may seem easier to access, but they carry serious risks:

  • Higher battery power and larger liquid volumes, increasing risk of injury

  • Stronger effects with unpredictable nicotine concentrations

  • No accurate labelling, making it impossible to know how much nicotine is being consumed

These unregulated devices can make quitting even harder and less safe. At Quit Hero, we emphasise using only regulated, professional pathways to reduce harm and protect your health.

Protecting Young People: A Positive Sign

One of the main reasons the new laws were introduced was the sharp rise in vaping among young Australians. Early data suggests this part of the reform is having an impact.

Recent research indicates that without the new legislation, more than 1,000 additional teenagers may have started vaping every week. Higher prices and reduced availability of illegal products appear to be discouraging uptake among younger people, who are generally more price-sensitive than adults.

This is an encouraging sign—but it’s only part of the picture.

Smoking Cessation vs Illicit Supply

While the reforms aim to balance public health protection with access for people trying to quit smoking, experts agree enforcement remains a major challenge.

Vapes are easy to hide, transport, and sell illegally. Without strong, consistent enforcement, people are more likely to choose the most convenient option—even if it’s unsafe or unlawful.

For therapeutic access to work as intended, legal pathways must be:

  • Easy to understand

  • Reasonably accessible

  • Properly enforced alongside restrictions on illegal supply

Where Quit Hero Stands

At Quit Hero, we support Australia’s goal of protecting young people and reducing nicotine harm—but we also recognise that quitting must be practical, supported, and realistic.

That’s why we encourage:

Quitting smoking is already hard. The pathway should help people forward, not push them into riskier choices.

Looking Ahead

The Federal Government has indicated that more data will be collected to better understand how therapeutic vaping products are being supplied and used. This information will be critical in shaping future policy and improving support for people who want to quit.

In the meantime, if you’re considering quitting smoking or reducing nicotine dependence, speaking with a healthcare professional remains the safest first step.

You don’t have to navigate this alone—and the right support can make all the difference.

Reference

Tsirtsakis, A. Are Australian vaping laws effective or falling short? newsGP, RACGP, 02 July 2025.

Therapeutic Goods Administration. Therapeutic Vaping Goods: Unapproved Therapeutic Goods.

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