Darwin retailers respond to national vaping laws

Darwin businesses have reacted to the news of changing laws around supplying vaping products. Read what they had to say.

Retailers across Darwin believe the nationwide crackdown on vaping will affect Territorians for the worse.

In May last year, the Albanese government announced it would outlaw the importation of non-prescription vaping products from January 1, 2024.

Disposable vapes containing nicotine can still be supplied in Australia in pharmacy settings to a patient with a prescription.

Additionally, disposable vapes not containing nicotine or making therapeutic claims may be supplied by retailers in accordance with state or territory law.

NT News spoke to retailers in Darwin about the new law, which one store manager compared to “prohibition”.

“I know for a fact my customers will revert back to smoking cigarettes if they can’t get a (vaping) prescription,” he said.

“If the government was genuinely concerned about peoples’ health, they would have applied the same law to cigarettes and alcohol of ‘you can purchase alcohol from the local chemist, but only if you’re trying to quit your addiction’ – they haven’t done that.

“The country has gone from having no real regulation around vaping to introducing this massive ban; it’s similar to prohibition.”

A nationwide crackdown on vaping has drawn the ire of Darwin businesses. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The manager said small businesses would “suffer” from the changes.

“I know (my business) will suffer, and jobs will be on the line over a product that isn’t being eliminated – it’s just been moved from my shop front to a pharmacy down the road,” he said.

“With this decision, the government has basically said only some people are allowed to profit from (vaping) but not everyone else.”

Another retailer said Territory authorities were “already confused” prior to the rule change.

“I’ve had health and safety workers come here and not know what it is they’re looking at and even asking if we sell pot,” he said.

“The new law aside, they were already confused.”

In the city, a small business owner said he was “pretty blind” on the situation.

“Honestly, for the vaping law, I’m pretty blind with what’s going especially for small scale businesses like mine,” he said.

“I think the government’s blind as well; before we used to sell vapes we sold (cigarettes) because there was no vaping in Darwin – specifically in Darwin – not long ago.”

The manager said he expected to sell more cigarettes following the ban.

“I remember (years ago) my smoke sales drastically coming down and there was a rising pattern in people vaping so I was like ‘either I quit my business now and go home, or I go with the market’,” he said.

“With this ban, we are now getting ready to go back to cigarettes.”

A NT Health spokesperson said the Territory was “working with other jurisdictions” in pursuit of national reform.

“It is illegal to sell and purchase nicotine vaping products in the Northern Territory in retail settings, including those holding a tobacco license,” the spokesperson said.

“The NT is working with other jurisdictions to progress national tobacco and vaping reforms, which will include banning the retail sale of all vapes.”

Originally published as Darwin retailers respond to national vaping laws