Your say: What The Chronicle readers said about vape store crackdown
Queensland Health has shut 148 illegal vape and tobacco stores in 10 days, but The Chronicle readers doubt the crackdown will work, predicting underground sales and home delivery will take the place of shopping centre retail.
News that raids by Queensland Heath officers have closed 148 illegal vapes and tobacco stores in the past 10 days was greeted with a mix of acceptance and scepticism by The Chronicle readers, who took to social media to voice their opinion.
The crackdown comes after Queensland parliament passed tough new laws that target landlords who allow the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco on their properties.
Landlords now have the power to cancel leases, or face fines of up to $160,000.
Retailers can be shut down for 90 days under an interim closure notice, while public health officers can seize illegal products from stores suspected of selling excise-free smokes.
The Chronicle readers were not convinced that the new laws would see the end of illegal smokes.
“OK, so now they don’t use shopfronts,” Brad Holznagel said.
“Now, how do you stop them selling from home, like they’re already doing?”
“They’re going to end up having get-togethers, like Tupperware parties,” PJ McGarth replied.
“They’ve just pushed it underground now, and home delivery is easier anyway,” Mark Saville said.
“The joke’s on the government because we already have front door delivery now,” Ryan Goldsworthy said.
“Watch out for a van patrolling your suburban streets, a bit like an ice-cream van,” Lynda Zunker said.
“There will always be a way around illegal activities.”
Others blamed the large excise levied on tobacco.
“Well, if the federal government didn’t tax tobacco out of every person’s budget, you wouldn’t have the problem,” Greg Meade said.
Clint Stock questioned how the smokes were getting into Australia and what else Border Force was failing to detect.
“Our border controls must not be doing a very good job if all this tobacco gets into Australia; I think questions need to be asked as to why, and if this much tobacco gets into Australia what else is getting into the country, like guns, drugs, who knows what,” he said.
“They think they’re going to stop it but they won’t because it’s the Australian Government; they couldn’t even house the people in this country, let alone take illegal tobacco off the street,” Brenden Hedges said.
Many readers welcomed the change and suggested other moves that could help smokers quit.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard today,” Adam Smith said.
“Hopefully they get them, and there’s no more cigarette smoke filling the air, so we might be able to breathe better.”
“They want you to stop smoking, then make all the nicotine patches, gum and spray free,” Wendy Red Fahina said.
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Originally published as Your say: What The Chronicle readers said about vape store crackdown
