As students around the country return to school for the new year, promising new data shows vape use among young Australians has significantly reduced thanks to Australia’s world leading vaping laws.
The latest statistics from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) found 2024 vaping rates among 15 to 29-year-olds reduced by around a third when compared to 2023.
Vaping rates among the 30 to 59 age group also dropped by around half, while overall, vaping rates for people aged 15 and above were reduced by more than a third.
The latest research from the Cancer Council’s Generation Vape study, Assessing the impacts of Australia’s vape laws on adolescents: early indicators of success (January 2025): Freeman B, Egger S, Brooks A & Dessaix A., also shows the number of young people aged 14 to 17 who vape is in decline.
The Cancer Council stated the new report from the Generation Vape research project reveals promising early indicators that Australia’s new vape laws are reducing adolescent access to and use of vapes. The Generation Vape study assesses the impact of the laws on adolescents aged 14 to 17.
In June 2024, Australia introduced legislation prohibiting the sale of all vapes outside of pharmacies, aiming to close the “non-nicotine vape loophole” and curb the rise in youth vaping. The laws, which came into full effect in October 2024, build on the importation and sales ban of disposable vaping products, and require adolescents under 18 to have a prescription to access vapes.
All data from Wave 7 of the Generation Vape study was collected following the October law changes and Wave 6 data was collected in the first quarter of 2024.
Key Findings:
- Decrease in Vaping Rates: The proportion of “never-vapers” among adolescents has increased to 85.7% in Wave 7 (November 2024), up from 82.8% in Wave 6. This marks the highest rate of never-vapers across all waves of data collection since the national survey began in 2022.
- Reduction in Smoking Rates: The proportion of adolescents who have never smoked is at its highest level, with 93.9% reporting never having smoked.
- Decline in Vape Purchases: Only 26.8% of adolescents who have vaped reported buying their own vape in Wave 7, a significant decrease from 36.0% in Wave 6.
- Increased Awareness of Vaping Harms: There is growing agreement among adolescents about the harms of vaping, with 82% acknowledging that vapes are unsafe to use and 87% recognising the potential for addiction.
- Vaping less socially acceptable: Fewer adolescents in Wave 7 report that they would vape if one of their best friends were to offer them a vape. The strength of their conviction of refusal has also increased, with over half (50.5%) stating they would definitely not use a vape compared to only than 40% stating definitely not when the survey began in 2022.
“The early indicators from Generation Vape suggest that Australia’s comprehensive approach to regulating vapes is having a positive impact on reducing adolescent vaping,” explains Professor Becky Freeman, University of Sydney Chief Investigator of the Generation Vape project, “however, continued monitoring and enforcement are crucial to ensure these trends continue.”
Increases in the proportion of never-vapers and decline in vape purchases among adolescents show early indication of the success of current laws across the country, “unless importers and retailers know they will be subject to heavy penalties and loss of license to operate, they will continue to defy the laws,” says Professor Freeman.
Anita Dessaix, Director of Prevention and Advocacy at Cancer Council NSW says Australia is among the first countries in the world to show early signs of success in slowing or halting the rise of vape access in young people, “it shows that Australia is on the right track and emphasises the need for continued public education campaigns about the harms of vaping and for high-levels of ongoing government law enforcement.
“Continued focus on a comprehensive approach to both vape and tobacco use prevention and cessation is paramount.” Concluded Ms Dessaix.
This data showed the largest proportion of ‘never-vapers’ since the Generation Vape study began in 2022, with 85 per cent of people aged 14 to 17 reporting they had never vaped.
The proportion of young people who have never smoked is also at its highest rate at almost 94 per cent.
Young people are more aware than ever before of the dangers of vaping, with 82 per cent recognising that vapes are unsafe and 87 per cent agreeing vaping can be addictive.
These early results are supported by ongoing compliance and enforcement activity to enforce the government’s vaping reforms by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (the TGA), the Australian Border Force (ABF) and state and territory authorities. Since 1 January 2024, the TGA and ABF have seized more than seven million vaping products from illegal operators.
The TGA is working closely with state and territory agencies to address the unlawful supply of vaping goods and in a joint enforcement operation between the TGA and South Australian Consumer and Business Services in December 2024, more than 60 retail businesses were investigated and infringement notices totalling more than $150,000 were issued to eight businesses.
The Malinauskas Labor Government has also introduced among the toughest penalties of any state or territory in the nation against the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco, with fines of up to $1.5 million for those caught selling.
On January 30 2025 South Australia also became the first state in the nation to ban highly addictive nicotine pouches under new legislation as part of the Malinauskas Government’s crackdown on the illegal tobacco and vape market.
Nicotine pouches – which are sold as an alternative to vapes and tobacco – are now subject to the same controls as illicit tobacco and e-cigarette products in South Australia. The Government is taking preventive action early to stop the next dangerous nicotine trend from taking hold in our community.
Anyone requiring support to quit smoking or vaping is encouraged to reach out to a health professional or call the Quitline on 137848 (13QUIT).
The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, stated:
“These latest data shows the Albanese Government’s vaping reforms are working to prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.
“We will continue to investigate and penalise those who are not complying with our vaping laws to ensure vapes and vaping products do not end up in the hands of our young people.
“These results show Australia’s world leading reforms are working to stamp out vaping and smoking, and helping Australians to live healthier lives.”
South Australian Premier, Minister Picton stated:
“It’s fantastic that our reforms are helping to stop young people becoming hooked on vapes.
“Vapes are full of highly-addictive nicotine and nasty chemicals. Parents have told me about the terrible effects of their children getting addicted, including problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating at school and lack of appetite, with kids even resorting to hiding vapes under their pillows at night.
“This is why our Government, working with the Albanese Government, has been so focused on educating the next generation and cracking down on the criminals who target our kids with these awful products.
“The only thing we should be putting in our lungs is air and we are glad that important health message is reaching young South Australians.”
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Note the signboard outside a former vapes store at Mona Vale - this faced towards the main bus-stop where children and students are waiting for the school bus