Vapes on Snapchat: Black market crims’ evil tactics

A blanket ban on all non-prescription vapes is not as simple as it sounds and could push black market sales further underground. Here’s why.

A blanket ban on all non-prescription vapes could push black market sales further underground, and make it harder to police, according to some critics of the Federal Government’s proposed new vaping laws.

Experts also have warned that banning vapes is not as simple as it sounds with all states and territories having different laws in place.

Paul Dillon the director and founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) said the Federal Government had some good ideas but it is a complex situation to implement and enforce.

Banning vapes is not as simple as it sounds, say critics.

“I had three girls tell me they bought vapes on Snapchat. They typed in a word and within minutes had someone who was going to meet them at a train station and sell them 50 vapes,” Mr Dillon said.

“There are laws already in place that are simply not being policed,” he said.

“Banning vapes is not as simple as that. There needs to be consistency…and parents also need to be educated,” he said.

Mr Dillon said that vapes are being smuggled into the country with toys and through the mail.

Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare said vapes are already banned.

Vapes are being smuggled into the country and sold on the black market. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“We already have a black market which does not abide by the rules,” Mr Foukkares said.

“Where there is a demand a consumer finds a way.”

“It is the same as illegal drugs and you can get those pretty quick.”

Mr Foukkares said AACS members believe the only way to successfully tackle the youth vaping crisis is to treat the sale of vapes the same way tobacco is treated.

“You have to stop the illegal supply chain by legitimising the existing demand,” he said. “To think that you can simply prohibit something that is as mainstream in adults as this is, is incredibly ambitious and in our view, doomed to fail.

“I read yesterday that we could see Vape Police out and about and I’m keen to know the details of this because if that’s catching criminals selling vapes, that’s a good thing.

“But if that means everyday people who are vaping in the street are going to be spot checked for a prescription and then fined for or, even worse, arrested if they don’t have a prescription, I think we need to have a serious look at where we’re headed as a country.”

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler used his speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday to announce the government would increase the tobacco excise by 5 per cent over the next three years from September 1.