SA illegal vaping hotspots revealed as authorities prepare action against dozens of dodgy businesses

An official crackdown has identified Adelaide’s hotspot for illegal sales of highly addictive nicotine vapes, as authorities target dozens of dodgy retailers in a new round of legal enforcement.

Adelaide’s central business district is a “hotspot” for illegal sales of highly addictive nicotine vapes, an official crackdown has found, as authorities target dozens of dodgy retailers.

A two-month statewide SA Health blitz on e-cigarette shops, which concluded on Friday, found more than 40 per cent of businesses breaking the law were city-based.

Data on the total number of raids, checks and seizures was unavailable because authorities are finalising testing of seized vapes before deciding what legal enforcement is needed for offending outlets.

Under federal law from October 2021, nicotine vaping products were classified as prescription-only medicines and the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes without a formal doctor’s note illegal.

Retailers face fines of up to $20,000, seizure of stock and the revocation of licences if selling vapes containing nicotine.

Halfway through the blitz last month authorities had made 152 random business inspections – including multiple raids on the same outlet, seizing 2804 vapes with an estimated street value of at least $80,000.

Under state law selling nicotine vapes is illegal without a prescription. Picture: iStock

Laboratory testing showed 1,647 seized vapes – or almost 60 per cent – contained nicotine.

Authorities fined an unidentified business $1,000 for selling vapes while unlicensed while lab tests later revealed the products had nicotine.

Another seven licenced business were fined $500 for breaching licence conditions along with selling, supplying or possessing nicotine vapes.

But under proposed legal changes, retailers must now prove their vapes do not contain nicotine regardless of packaging claims.

In response to inquiries, Health Minister Chris Picton on Sunday said full results were still being analysed and follow-up inspections still needed.

We are now finalising testing and determining if any other enforcement action is warranted.

“Early results are showing the Adelaide CBD as a hotspot for the illegal sales of nicotine vapes,” he said.

“SA Health is reporting that about 40 per cent of businesses caught selling illegal nicotine vapes during the blitz are based in the city. SA Health is taking action against them.”

He said vaping was a looming health crisis “we should all be worried about” as e-cigarettes were dangerous containing a cocktail of chemicals and much higher concentrations of nicotine than traditional smoking.

SA Health Protection and Licensing Services Executive Director Chris Lease, Health Minister Chris Picton, Chief Public Health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier and Sara Driver whose 2 teenage daughters became addicted to vapes, in front of seized vapes containing nicotine. Picture Brad Crouch

The agency’s health protection and regulation executive director, Dr Chris Lease, said the blitz found the “highest concentration of businesses selling illegal nicotine vaping products was in the Adelaide CBD”.

“This intel has informed our vaping blitz,” he said.

“In situations where it has been confirmed that nicotine vapes are being sold or supplied, SA Health has seized these products and taken appropriate action against these businesses.”

Mr Picton said he is highly concerned about the trend of young people “getting hooked on vapes” with alarming stories from parents on the toll of addiction.

“Kids not eating, highly irritable, finding it hard to concentrate and hiding vapes under their pillows for their next quick hit when they should be sleeping,” he said.

The government also wants to ban smoking or vaping at more outdoor public areas, fines doubled for selling tobacco-related products to minors and venue cigarette vending machines outlawed.

Illegal nicotine vapes. picture: supplied

Earlier this year launched a new education campaign targeting high school students who had started vaping, which teachers had also reported was fuelling anti-social behaviour.

Latest data shows an SA Health poisons hotline received 30 calls last year reporting children under five had been exposed to vape devices and fluids and multiple pleas for help in 2023.

Over the past six years, e-cigarette use in SA among people aged 15 to 29 years has increased from 1.1 per cent to 7.8 per cent in 2022.

The state’s top medico, chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier, wrote to thousands of parents to warn them of its “harmful effects”.

Illegal nicotine vapes are being sold by the thousands in private social media groups accessible by children amid a growing underground market.