The disposable black market & associated disproportionate rise in youth vaping in Australia results from the illegality of all vapes, not just disposables. It’s hard to imagine it becoming a burgeoning black market predicated solely on that vapers find the highly available, better value, relatively environmentally friendly option untenable. Overall a sensible move I think coming from a pro-vape perspective
What was the rationale for banning all vapes in Australia? Seems excessive. Are cigarettes banned too?
To address youth vaping. The outcome of that has been that youth vaping is significantly higher than in other OECD member countries, and kids are now getting them from the ‘vape dealer’ whom may have other illicit drugs available. Cigarettes aren’t banned, only made unaffordable via progressive excise tax. That’s had its own unintended consequences of launching a new market for “chop chop” i.e. illegally grown unprocessed tobacco, as well as black market imports that sidestep the plain packaging laws, and tobacco gang wars in Sydney and Melbourne.
Tobacco companies weren’t making money off them, no juul equivalent here, nothing from Marlboro/Phillip Morris ECT. Big lobbies to push the government. A year past the ban on vapes and I can still find them everywhere… Except from the doctors and pharmacies that are meant to be selling legal replacements.
