The Data That Proves the Australian Vape Ban is A Failure
New data has revealed a sharp increase in both smoking and vaping among young Australians, casting serious doubt on the effectiveness of the Albanese Government’s sweeping anti-vape legislation. The figures, released by Roy Morgan, suggest the crackdown may have had minimal impact on curbing overall nicotine use and could even be pushing young people towards more harmful traditional tobacco products.
According to the latest research, Australians aged 18 to 24 now have the highest rate of smoking or vaping of any age group. In less than a year, the proportion of this demographic engaging in one or both habits climbed from 25.1% (620,000 people) in September 2024 to 28% (700,000 people) – a steep 2.9 percentage point rise. Vaping alone among 18-24 year olds is now at its highest rate since early 2024, increasing from 19% to 20.5% (510,000 people).
More alarmingly, there has been a significant jump in the use of factory-made cigarettes within this same young adult group. The proportion smoking traditional cigarettes surged from 8.2% (200,000) to 11.1% (280,000). This rise comes despite the federal government’s anti-vape laws, which came into effect on July 1, 2024, banning the importation, production, and commercial possession of disposable, non-therapeutic vapes.
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine described the data as painting a “worrying picture.” She stated, “The legislation was phased in starting from July 2024, but the data clearly shows that it has failed to reduce the overall incidence of smoking and vaping. In fact, rates are now higher than they were during the latter half of last year.”
Overall, 17.1% of Australian adults now smoke or vape, an increase of 110,000 people since late 2024, bringing the total to 3.7 million. This increase was largely driven by a resurgence in cigarette use. The crackdown is also being linked to a surge in illegal tobacco shops, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, which critics argue is empowering organized crime.
In response to the growing black market, the NSW Opposition has announced plans for new legislation to tighten enforcement. NSW Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane warned, “We can’t risk a new generation getting hooked on cheap cigarettes and destroying their health because the Minns Government failed to act on enforcement and tougher penalties.”
The data suggests that while the government’s efforts to restrict access to non-therapeutic vapes may have been well-intentioned, the policy has so far failed to curb nicotine use among its key target demographic and may be having the unintended consequence of increasing smoking rates.
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