Vaping: One in five young people doing it as popularity peaks

Almost one in five Gen Zs has this very unhealthy habit. But it’s starting to lose its lustre. This is why.

Cancer Council tobacco control unit head Alecia Brooks

Almost one in five young people regularly vape, a new report has found, but there are signs government crackdowns are making the harmful habit less socially acceptable.

The Australia Generation Vape study, led by Cancer Council, found nearly one in five (18 per cent) of young adults aged 18 to 24 regularly vaped daily, weekly, or monthly from last October to December.

The ongoing study, which surveyed more than 2500 young people about their experiences and perceptions of vapes, also found usage was down from the one in three who admitted to vaping from February to May 2023.

Vaping is not seen as cool because it's so unhealthy.

Cancer Council tobacco issues committee chair Alecia Brooks said vaping was becoming less socially acceptable among young Australians.

“The three main drivers for tobacco use declining were always health, your family and peer pressure, and then the cost … and I think similar things are happening with vapes,” she said.

“If you can’t, smoke or vape in a particular area, and less people are doing it, then you’re like, ‘do I need to do this in the first place’, and we know that’s also been a big driving factor.”

Ms Brooks said Australia had been world leading in tobacco and nicotine product controls and the ongoing crackdowns were helping vape rates.

“It’s really good to see state and federal governments working together around cracking down on those retailers that are doing the wrong thing,” she said.

“I think for young people, they don’t want to be caught up in that world.

“I think that they understand the industry that’s behind these products, and the people who are trying to push and sell these products … so they are starting to think ‘is this an industry that I want to be giving money to’.”

Treasurer David Janetzki in Parliament. Picture: Tertius Pickard/NCA NewsWire

An escalating health threat as vaping declines is the growing popularity of illegal nicotine pouches, glorified by international influencers online.

The oral pouches placed along your gums are often higher in nicotine than cigarettes or vapes and are targeted at young people with colourful designs and flavours.

“We’re worried because these sorts of products can skirt around those regulations somewhat, and they’re harder to detect,” Ms Brooks said.

“They could be using them anywhere and you’re not going to know because it’s not the same as when they’re using a vape or a cigarette, where you can smell it or see them putting it into their mouth a lot easier.

“They can use it in environments where previously they would may have had to take a break because they’re not allowed to vape or smoke in that location.”

The state government revealed on Thursday it had seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash as it continued the crackdown on illegal tobacco traders in a series of targeted raids.

Officers from the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) seized $468,000 in cash and other assets after targeting more than 20 southeast stores.

Treasurer David Janetzki said the Queensland government made no apologies for targeting illicit tobacco operators across the state.

“We’ll continue to come down hard on those breaking the law and ensure they’re held accountable,” Mr Janetzki said.

SPER director Kim Easton said illegal traders would face further action if they did not pay their fines.

Originally published as Vaping: One in five young people doing it as popularity peaks