Melbourne vape shops flouting tough new laws despite hefty fines

Dodgy vaping businesses across Melbourne have been caught flouting tough new laws by continuing to sell black-market vapes despite the threat of jail time and millions of dollars in fines.

Dodgy vaping sellers across Melbourne are flouting tough new laws by continuing to sell black-market vapes despite the threat of jail time and millions of dollars in fines.

Australia is the first country to crack down on the sale of vapes outside of pharmacies, with other businesses and vendors selling vapes risking up to seven years in jail and as much as $2.2m in fines from yesterday. Corporations can also be made to pay up to $21.9m for every contravention.

But, when the Herald Sun visited multiple vape shops in Melbourne’s CBD on Monday night, reporters were able to easily purchase vapes from the businesses without a prescription or ID.

At least 50 customers at seven vape shops in the CBD were counted purchasing the ­illegal goods.

Australia is the first country to crack down on the sale of vapes outside of pharmacies. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The Herald Sun was able to buy vapes from merchants in Melbourne's CBD.

A Lonsdale St shop had multiple vapes available for sale.

Stuck to the counter was a placard showing the different prices of various brands.

A shop worker said it was “business as usual” for him ­despite the new laws.

“Nothing has changed for us, we’ll continue selling vapes,” he told the Herald Sun.

In Elizabeth St, one tobacconist that also sells American candy was selling vapes in ­watermelon, grape and other flavours.

Purchasers were prompted to conceal the vapes in pockets or to use a black plastic bag to exit the store.

Also in Elizabeth St, two other businesses were openly selling vapes. Shop staff could be overheard offering customers discounts for cash.

Discarded vapes and packaging lay on the footpath outside a Swanston St shop.

The blatant disregard for the new laws comes despite Acting Premier Ben Carroll warning on Sunday that there would be a “strong level” of enforcement in Victoria.

Vapes are openly being sold in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“It will be both at a Victoria Police level, but I can also say as the Minister for Education we know all forms of tobacco and how highly addictive vaping is,” he said.

New criminal offences and civil penalty provisions apply under the Therapeutic Goods Act relating to the ­importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of vaping goods, including vaping devices, other than in circumstances or by people specified in exceptions.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said vaping was mainly a health issue.

“Victoria Police aims to ­address all forms of offending, but prioritises the allocation of its resources towards preventing and responding to crime causing the most harm,” she said.

“On occasion Victoria Police does conduct targeted enforcement activities against businesses illegally selling vapes, particularly those linked to ­organised crime.”

A price list placard is openly displayed in a vape shop despite the new laws.

A Victorian government spokeswoman said: “We will continue to work with the commonwealth and other states and territories on implementation of these new reforms.

“Victoria Police continue to have the powers to inspect, seize, and enforce illegal sales of vapes and tobacco products.

“The commonwealth will soon delegate new enforcement powers under the Therapeutic Goods Act to all jurisdictions.”

The federal government last week announced that the vapes policy would be tweaked from ­October to allow adults to buy them from pharmacies without a doctor’s note.

To gain Greens support in the Senate, Health Minister Mark Butler watered down his tough new vaping ban by ­removing the need for a prescription.

Meanwhile, a major chain, Blooms the Chemist, notified its pharmacists that it would not support the sale of vapes without prescription because of the health risks they posed.