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VAPERS FEAR GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN WILL LEAD THEM BACK TO CIGARETTES

By Savannah Meacham - 3 days ago
Huge changes ahead for Australia's vaping law under $234 million government
overhaul.


Vapers fear the government crackdown on e-cigarettes will force them back to
smoking despite the price hikes on a packet of cigarettes.

Rob started smoking when he was 17 and has only in the last six months kicked
his habit after a friend gave him a vape.

The 60-year-old truck driver told 2GB's Ben Fordham that he is addicted to
vaping but said he uses e-cigarettes less than he'd smoke.



READ MORE: What does the new crackdown on vaping mean for Australians, and why
do doctors want strong regulations?

Rob claims vaping stopped him smoking cigarettes. (9News/2GB)

"I spend about 20 bucks a week now on vapes and I feel so much better," he told
the Nine radio station.

"It was easy, I never wanted a cigarette since."

But Rob fears the $235 million government crackdown on vaping - which promises
to end the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, reduce the amount of nicotine and
change the packaging - will force him back to smoking cigarettes.

"I can tell you now, if Albanese wants to take these vapes away, I'll end up
going back to smoking sitting in the cab all day driving," he said.

"It's just a nightmare and I'm worried."

Under the government crackdown, Rob could still access a vape if he visited a
doctor to get a prescription for a pharmaceutical one.

Although it has previously been difficult to access a script for a vape to stop
smoking from a doctor with only one in 20 doctors authorised to do it, the
government is promising to streamline the process.

"We think this has to change," Health Minister Mark Butler said.

"It will require removing the restrictions on doctors prescribing so that all
doctors can write a script for those who really need it."

But the only difference is the vape won't be flavoured like the current
disposable e-cigarettes.

The government's main game is to tackle vaping among young people, especially
school-aged children.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said the crackdown on vaping is to
target the habit among young people. (Alex Ellinghausen)

"Vaping has now become the number one behavioural issue in high schools and it
is becoming widespread in primary schools as well," he said.

"Over the past 12 months, Victoria's poisons hotline has taken 50 calls about
children under the age of four ingesting vapes. Under the age of four."

Vaping is the "biggest loophole in Australian healthcare history" and banning
disposable vapes that are easily disguised by school kids is a key part of the
crackdown, Butler added.

"These are supposed to be pharmaceutical products so they will have to present
that way, no more bubble gum flavours, pink unicorns or vapes disguised as
highlighter pens for kids to hide in their pencil cases," Butler said.

READ MORE: Boxing star charged after airport arrest

The government is banning the sale of disposable vapes making them only
available with a prescription from the pharmacy. (9News)

The federal government also plans to crack down to increase the tax on tobacco
products to minimise smoking in Australia.

The excise on tobacco will increase by 5 per cent over the next three years
generating more than $3 billion in tax revenue.

This will increase the price of a packet of cigarettes by about $10 to nearly
$50 a pack within four years.

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