At ACOSH, we advocate reducing the availability of both tobacco and e-cigarettes to encourage quitting, reduce relapse and prevent uptake of smoking and vaping by young people.
With the federal government’s release of the National Tobacco Strategy 2023 – 2030, we know that message has hit home, but it will also take action from state governments to make this a reality.
Here are some of the ways we can reduce access to cigarettes and vapes across the country.
Reducing Tobacco Licenses
Did you know in Western Australia there are nearly 6 times more tobacco retailers than pharmacies in Western Australia?
WA has 633 pharmacies. By comparison we have 3,400 tobacco sales outlets for our population of 2.6 million.
More outlets equal easier access which is only making the problem worse.
ACOSH supports increasing the cost of a retail tobacco license each year by at least $200 (currently $286 in WA). We believe that this would result in a reduction of outlets in WA and increased resources for monitoring and enforcement. By comparison, a tobacco license in Tasmania costs around $1,200 each year.
Reforms like these were proposed in the consultation report summarising submissions to the Review of the Tobacco Control Products Act 2006. While it was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Health on 24 June 2021 the draft bill has not been introduced.
Join ACOSH in urging the government to pass the new Tobacco Control Products Act 2006 with the WA Minister for Health. Contact [email protected]
Reducing Vape Shops
On 1 July 2024, new legislation came into effect prohibiting the domestic manufacture, commercial possession, and sale of non-therapeutic vapes, including a ban on all disposable vapes.
Now the only legal way to acquire a vape is for smoking cessation, or the management of nicotine dependence and these can only be purchased from a pharmacy. Flavours are also restricted to mint, menthol, or tobacco only.
Currently, patients need a prescription from a medical or nurse practitioner to buy vapes from a pharmacy. As of 1 October 2024, a prescription won’t be required to buy some vapes if patients are over 18, but the same rules apply to pharmacies.
ACOSH supports the federal government’s strong stance and encourages the state governments to come down hard on retailers who deliberately flout the rules.
If you suspect someone is selling illegal e-cigarettes or vapes in WA, you can report it to: WA Department of Health: [email protected] Crime Stoppers WA: 1800 333 000 or crimestopperswa.com.au/report. This can be done anonymously.
