Vaping Tasmania: Inside state’s thriving online marketplace for illicit nicotine-containing vapes

While Tasmania has little of the under-the-counter culture that exists in the mainland capitals, those itching for a fix can buy nicotine-containing vapes easily online. Here’s how they’re doing it.

Vapes being offered for sale on social media in Launceston. Picture: Facebook

Illegal nicotine-containing vapes/e-cigarettes remain highly accessible in Tasmania because of a thriving online market, the Mercury has learnt.

While they remain largely inaccessible under-the-counter compared to mainland capitals Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, where they can be purchased for as little as $15 –$20, Tasmanian punters itching for a fix are able to purchase the items easily from Facebook Marketplace.

A two-word phrase punched into the platform reveals a plethora of vaping products, most of which are retailed for approximately $35, ensuring a hefty profit margin for vendors.

Discounts are offered for larger purchases, while some vendors also operate a delivery service.

Illicit vapes are for sale in all four of Tasmania’s largest cities in this way.

The Mercury reached out to one of the vendors, who responded with a product list with sold-out items crossed out.

Vapes for sale via Facebook Marketplace in Launceston. Picture: Facebook

The vendor claimed that he made “not much” from his illicit sideline and that he “really just [sells] to mates”.

Asked how many nicotine-containing vapes he sold per week, the vendor responded that he sold “seven maybe” a week.

Nicotine-containing vapes/e-cigarettes are only legal with a prescription in Australia.

Vapes are considered unsafe by authorities due to the presence of chemicals such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein. The phenomenon is still too new for comprehensive longitudinal studies on their effects to human physiology.

Follow @humidityreport

In Tasmania, as for much of Australia, it is illegal for vendors to sell nicotine-containing vapes/e-cigarettes, and those that do sell these types of products require a licence and can only sell nicotine-free products.

It is illegal to sell even nicotine-free vapes/e-cigarettes to those under the age of 18.

The federal government has recently proposed reforms that would see the importation of both nicotine and nicotine free vaping/e-cigarette banned except for licensed distributors such as pharmacies.

Other reforms proposed include the banning of colours and exotic flavours.

The federal government is still in negotiations with the states to implement the reforms, which will require significant enforcement actions at Australia’s borders to implement successfully.