How Victorian stores get away with selling kids vapes

Experts warn the “e-cigarette epidemic” will “addict a new generation” if action isn’t taken now to punish stores illegally selling vapes.

Childhood vaping rates and hospitalisations for lung damage will continue to rise if the Victorian government does not crack down on black market vapes, Quit’s state director has warned.

The organisation has joined forces with VicHealth and the Cancer Council to campaign for urgent action, warning the “e-cigarette epidemic” will “addict a new generation”.

The trio are also calling for stronger border controls to stop unlawful imports, with Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White telling the Herald Sun the federal government was “definitely not doing enough”.

She said it is “incredibly easy” for anyone to buy vapes with nicotine, despite Victorian laws restricting their sale to adults with a prescription.

“The failure to enforce these laws on the ground means that’s how kids are getting their hands on them,” she said.

“We have liquor licensing laws … but nothing for selling the most lethal consumer product on the planet.”

Experts accused companies that make vapes of “predatory marketing tactics”.

The organisations want Victoria to introduce a retail licensing scheme, which Dr White said would hand responsibility to authorised officers instead of being divided between police and local councils.

“Enforcement falls between the gaps in legislation,” she said.

“Instead of taking the prosecution through the court system, (authorised officers) could levy an immediate fine.”

She said companies use “predatory marketing tactics” to portray vapes as harmless, and push them as a quitting tool despite evidence more people begin smoking, than quit, because of them.

“We’ve seen kids be admitted to hospital for seizures,” she said.

“The big risk is we’re actually going to undo the successes of the past 10 years.

“People who vape are three times more likely to go on to smoke.”

VicHealth chief Dr Sandro Demaio said e-cigarettes contain dozens of toxic chemicals.

“These are chemicals known to cause cancer and damage the brain and do not belong in our lungs,” he said.

Experts are concerned at the number of teens using vapes.

Cancer Council Victoria chief executive officer Todd Harper said there needs to be consequences for Victorian retailers who “knowingly doing the wrong thing”.

A Victorian government spokeswoman did not say whether they would support the proposed retail licensing scheme but said “Victoria has strict rules in place”.

“The sale of any e-cigarette product to a person under the age of 18 is prohibited,” she said.

It comes as state health ministers are set to this week call on the Albanese government to crack down on illegal vaping imports.

In a statement to the Herald Sun, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the former Morrison government was unable to finalise the National Tobacco Strategy.

“I am seeking urgent advice about why the National Tobacco Strategy has not been finalised and options for future advice,” Mr Butler said.

It follows a Herald Sun investigation earlier this month, which revealed police have been unable to point to a single fine against tobacconists selling illegal vapes, despite a change to the law eight months ago.

Several tobacconists and grocers in Melbourne’s CBD were found to be selling illegal vaping products that contain nicotine, with many businesses hiding the products under their counters in a bid to evade authorities.