Where teens are buying vapes: Qld retailers defy crackdown

More than a third of teenagers who vape have admitted to buying illegally from tobacconists and shops that continue to flout tighter restrictions as it can be revealed vaping numbers have dropped.

Vapes confiscated by Queensland principals.

More than a third of teenagers who vape have admitted to buying the harmful products illegally from tobacconists and shops that continue to flout tighter restrictions.

The latest snapshot from the Generation Vape study, led by Cancer Council in partnership with University of Sydney, revealed 14 to 17 years old were continuing to shun vaping with rates falling from 18 per cent in early 2023 to now 15 per cent in 2025.

The number of young people who have never vaped has also increased to 85 per cent, compared to 82 per cent in early 2023, according the study’s latest snapshot.

But Cancer Council’s Tobacco Issues Committee chair Alecia Brooks said illegal retailers were persisting in putting “profit over public health”.

The federal government on Wednesday announced over 10 million illegal vapes had been seized from the Australian market since January 2024.

“Vapes are becoming less socially acceptable, and less accessible however tobacconists in particular continue to exploit young people,” Ms Brooks said.

“Any vape that is not sold by a pharmacist to help someone quit smoking, is illegal.

“With strong vaping and tobacco control laws now in place, we welcome increased government and agency enforcement action to deter and hold retailers accountable for illegally selling these harmful products.”

The rates of teens vaping is declining.

The study found that most young vape users had the products bought by other people.

Of those who said admitted purchasing their own this year, 34.8 per cent said it was from a tobacconist or vape shop, 27.2 per cent received them from friends, while others bought them from service stations, convenience stores or social media, where ad exposure was increasing.

“Our concern lies with illegal retailers who are deliberately selling illegal vape products to young people in shops that appear legitimate,” Ms Brooks said.

“We can’t take our foot off the pedal now and our focus needs to be on effective enforcement measures.”

Generation Vape chief investigator Professor Becky Freeman said the study also showed that the social acceptability of vaping over the past few years had shifted.

“Young people tried vaping as it was marketing to them as fun, ‘safe’ and full of great flavours, but the increasingly young people report the realities of vaping addiction and harm to their wellbeing,” she said.

One 17-year-old male study participant said the habit was “fun and exciting” when he started but it was now a “gross” habit.

A 17-year-old female participant said when she started “everyone was doing it” but she was now “embarrassed”.

“Now it’s like a lot of people think that it’s like cringe and it’s … just not cool to do that,” the girl said.

“I don’t like to admit that I do I vape, cause it’s like it’s got this like kind of stigma around it now.”

WHERE TEENAGERS PURCHASED THEIR OWN VAPE FROM

At a tobacconist / vape shop 34.8%

Online vape store 7.4%

At a petrol station 2.3%

At a convenience store 7.8%

Through Snapchat 3.6%

Through Facebook 0.9%

From a friend 27.2%

From someone selling them (not a friend) 14%

*Source: Generation Vape study

Originally published as Where teens are buying vapes: Qld retailers defy crackdown