Could Australia’s tough vaping crackdown finally be working?
New research suggests the answer is yes—especially among teenagers.
According to the latest Generation Vape study by Cancer Council Australia, the number of 14 to 17-year-olds who vape has dropped.
It was 17.5% at the start of 2023. As of April 2025, it is 14.6%.
For those aged 15 and up, the decline is even sharper—more than a third down.
What’s Behind The Shift?
Health Minister Mark Butler credits a year of aggressive action.
“Our education and prevention campaigns, along with tighter regulations, are making a real difference,” he said.
Over 10 million illegal vapes have been seized.
This has happened since the government introduced new laws banning the import, sale, and advertising of disposable vapes.
The laws were introduced in July 2024.
Under the rules, nicotine vapes are now prescription-only and must be bought at pharmacies.
But while legal avenues have narrowed, Australia’s long-standing black market for vapes hasn’t disappeared overnight.
Still, the trend is promising. “We’ve turned the corner,” Butler says.
The UK followed suit with a similar ban in June.
While vapes are often seen as a safer alternative to cigarettes, experts warn they’re not risk-free—and the long-term effects are still murky.
For now, at least, Australia’s teens seem to be breathing a little easier.
