Advertisements for illegal nicotine products around Geelong despite vape crackdown

Stores across Geelong have been advertising black market nicotine vapes to members of the general public, despite millions of dollars of federal funding to combat the practice.

A whiteboard at a store fronting as a hair salon in Norlane displays illegal nicotine products next to prices.

Vendors around Geelong are flouting the law with the way they advertise illegal nicotine products, in the face of a federal government crackdown.

The Geelong Advertiser understands at least five stores across the city are selling illegal nicotine products such as vapes and imported cigarettes, with some advertising to the public in shocking ways.

One store, operating along Yarra St in the CBD, advertises mainly as a phone repair store, however a panel in the window advertises for a business with vape in the title, and names three popular brands of illegal vapes - IGET, HQD and Mr Fog.

An internet search for vape stores in Geelong revealed a business name including three aforementioned brand names at the same address.

The store uploaded 72 photos to its Google profile, showing off a vast array of vapes, some next to business cards and others showing off personalised paper bags.

It is understood some of these vapes may be legal and nicotine free, however many, such as the “IGET King” contain 50mg of nicotine, which is roughly the same as a packet of cigarettes.

Vapes were visible from the footpath outside underneath a glass countertop.

Further out in the suburbs, three stores selling illegally imported cigarettes operate within a 1km radius across Norlane and Corio.

Pictures of vapes taken from a vape store's Google profile.

One of these stores advertises as a hair salon, and features a whiteboard with illegal vape and cigarette options on it for anyone who enters the store to see.

Another store which opened over the last month on Separation St in Bell Park confirmed they sold vapes and illegally imported cigarettes.

The sale and possession of any recreational vape without a prescription has been illegal since October 2021, with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler pledging $737 million to fund measures to crackdown on the practice in April, while illegally imported cigarettes cost Australians $4.2 billion in 2022 alone.

VicHealth chief executive officer Sandro Demaio said the brashness of these businesses’ advertisements showed the need for more government intervention into the matter.

“I think it clearly shows how concerning the situation has become where you’ve got shop fronts and adverts in most high streets across Victoria, including regional towns,” he said.

“It shows an urgent need for a crackdown from the government.

“We need to throw everything we can at this issue before an entirely new generation of Australians become addicted to nicotine.

“These (vapes) are dangerous, they’re addictive, they’re highly toxic and they’re being sold as though they’re lollies.”

The Geelong Advertiser revealed earlier in the year that the cheap prices and appealing flavours were getting the city’s youth hooked on vapes.

A student believed to be in year 8 at a Bannockburn school was also reportedly hospitalised after collapsing due to a vaping incident on Thursday morning.

This came only a day after 3000 nicotine vapes were seized from a tobacco store in Melbourne, where the owners were caught selling to young teens without identification.

Originally published as Advertisements for illegal nicotine products around Geelong despite vape crackdown