$16m push to crackdown on illegal tobacco and vape sales in SA

A boosted strike team will hit the state’s streets targeting dodgy smoke and vape sales in an effort to stamp out the public health crisis.

Dodgy vape and tobacco stores will come under extra scrutiny in a $16 million crackdown on illegal tobacco and vape sales in South Australia.

The state government will splash the cash over the next four years on 20 extra Consumer and Business Services (CBS) officers to help stamp out criminal activity, ahead to the expected federal vaping laws later this year.

From July 1, CBS will take over the licensing functions from SA Health, responsible for assessing new licence applications, investigating reports of illegal sales, and ensuring licensees abide with the law.

About 20 more full-time equivalent employees will hit the streets to oversee licence applications, inspect premises and ensure compliance to state regulations.

Dodgy vape and tobacco stores in SA will come under extra scrutiny. Picture: Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government “is pulling every lever it can” to crackdown on the illegal tobacco and vape market, particularly “dodgy sellers” and those who “target our children.”

SA Health will still work on policies related to vaping and tobacco, as well as enforcement functions related to using vapes and cigarettes in public places.

Vapes are known to contain hundreds of harmful chemicals, heavy metals and toxins such as arsenic and lead, which are likely to cause cancer, heart disease and lung damage.

While e-cigarette containing nicotine, are known causes of breathlessness nicotine addiction, or more concerningly, nicotine positions symptoms such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea.

Health Minister Chris Picton dubbed smoking and vaping as “the biggest preventable killer” which is becoming a public health crisis.

“Strengthening our enforcement, with tough new vaping laws on the way, will help

keep these harmful products out of the hands and lungs of our young people,” Mr Picton said.

$16m will be invested to crackdown on illegal vaping and tobacco sales. Picture: Tim Pascoe

The money will be spent over the next four years on 20 extra Consumer and Business Services (CBS) officers. Picture: Tim Pascoe

It comes after SA Health launched the ‘Every vape is a hit to your health’ campaign this week to highlight the harmful effects of vaping.

The five-week-long campaign targeting 15 to 20-year-olds showcases powerful testimonies from ex-vapers who revealed their experience around vaping and quitting.

More than 4,500 illegal vapes were taken off the streets and 12 Adelaide businesses were slapped with fines during a eight-week blitz last year, in another bid to crackdown on illegal nicotine sales.

Smoking and vaping in popular outdoor public spaces including jetties, parts of beaches and outside shop centre entrances were banned from March 1, with on-the-spot fines of $105 and prosecution penalties of $750 for those caught smoking in banned areas.