Popular YouTuber leaving Australia over government ban on vapes

A popular Aussie YouTuber has announced he’s leaving the country over a controversial issue.

A popular Australian YouTuber has decided to leave the country over a government ban on vapes, launching a fundraiser to help cover the cost of the move.

Samuel Parsons, better known online as the Vaping Bogan, posted a video to his 185,000 subscribers yesterday announcing his imminent departure.

“Things down here in Australia are anything but good as gold,” Parsons, who reviews vaping products for his captive audience, began.

“It’s devastating that it’s come to this, that I’m going to have to leave my mum, dad and sister.”

Samuel Parsons, who runs the popular Vaping Bogan channel on YouTube, announced he’s leaving the country.

The Adelaide local is frustrated by a crackdown on vaping by the government, which he said will spark a “doomsday” and force people into a black market trade.

Last year, the Commonwealth announced plans to introduce sweeping legislation to crack down on the sale and use of vapes, citing concerns about a sharp uptake among young people.

It then “blindsided all of us” by making amendments to existing laws on the importation and sale of therapeutic-classed goods, Mr Parsons claimed.

“Already, on the first of January, they’ve brought in a full ban on the importation of disposable vaporisers. I couldn’t really care less about the ban of those,” he said.

“However, as of March 1, there will be a full ban on the importation of all vape products.”

After spending the past two weeks talking to industry experts, he came to the conclusion that “there’s really not much we can do”.

And he’s concerned about legislation that will “smash the domestic market” by targeting those who manufacture products locally.

“I really have no choice but to f***ing leave Australia, if I want to continue doing what I love, which is making content and helping people quit smoking,” Mr Parsons said.

He launched a GoFundMe to support his move to the UK.

He himself quit smoking almost a decade ago with the help of vapes and soon after began making videos about different products and emerging trends in the market.

His YouTube channel has swelled in popularity, with viewers from across the globe. His farewell video has more than 10,000 views in just 24 hours.

“It’s become my life and I absolutely f***ing love that. I don’t want to give it up. I don’t have much of a back-up plan either,” he said.

“I’ve made the pretty tough decision of having to leave this beautiful country and go somewhere that does believe vaping is a healthier alternative and does encourage smokers to access those products and doesn’t make it f***ing hard.”

The government’s crackdown on vaping makes it extremely difficult to buy products in Australia. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Thanks to his wife’s dual UK citizenship, Mr Parsons and his family will relocate to Britain in March – a country he said is much more progressive when it comes to vaping.

“It’s an extremely costly exercise, so I’m asking for a little bit of help,” he said, launching a GoFundMe appeal.

“It’s going to cost around $10,000 just in visas to get us over there, then you’ve got to pay a health fee … then there’s flights, relocating stuff over there. All of that is going to cost thousands and thousands of dollars.

“I’m sorry, Aussies. I hate to leave you but if I want to keep doing what I’m doing, I gotta get out of here.

“But there’s going to be some pretty awesome opportunities … vape expos around Europe. It’ll be easy to attend. It’s exciting but it’s not going to be cheap.”

The Australian Border Force has begun seizing large quantities of vapes being imported into the country.

To support those who vape as a substitute for smoking, the government will allow the sale of a limited number of vapes in pharmacies that are only available with a doctor’s prescription.

“We’ve seen some of them recently,” Mr Parsons said. “A 59mg pod – Jesus, 59mg – no flavour, it’ll cost you about $80. It’s going to be really expensive to quit smoking here in Australia.

“Aussies, stock up. Get your s*** now because it’s going to be a long, cold winter for vaping here. It’s doomsday. And the s*** you’ll be able to get from the pharmacy will be expensive and rubbish.”

He slammed the government’s tight regulation and said “it’s not going to work – we all know that”.

“The Australian Government’s prohibition approach isn’t going to work, the black market is going to go absolutely f***ing bananas, there’ll be all sorts of illegal sales,” he said.

“All we can hope for is that the government has to review what they’ve done, look at the even bigger mess they’ve created, and hopefully rethink it.

“This is a healthier alternative – it is the best way to quit smoking. I’m never gonna f***Ing stop telling people about it.”

Samuel Parsons, known as the Vaping Bogan, has amassed a huge social media following.

Fans flooded the YouTube video with shocked comments, pledging their support and praising his work.

“I’ll definitely be helping you out brother. You are one of the reasons I was able to stop smoking in 2017 and what you do is amazing,” one wrote.

Another said: “You are going to thrive in the UK with vaping content, the NHS are actually very supportive of vaping, no restrictions, all the best to you and the family mate, welcome to the UK.”

“I am confident that you all will make this move, be able to continue putting out content, educating folks in the vape world and most importantly … make a living,” another said.

At the time of writing, 57 people had donated a total of $4673 to the fundraiser, edging closer to the target of $10,000.

Originally published as Popular YouTuber leaving Australia over government ban on vapes