LVA calls for legalisation and regulation on vaping
Leading grassroots organisation, Legalise Vaping Australia has today called for the full legalisation and appropriate regulation of vaping products in response to an ABC article showing a number of vape liquids sold in Australia contained nicotine and were being sold illegally.
Brian Marlow, Campaign Director for Legalise Vaping Australia said that this highlighted the need to legalise and appropriately regulate the sale of nicotine vaping products to ensure consumers had access to appropriately labelled products that meet a minimum set of standards.
"Without proper regulation through legalisation, Australians will continue to put themselves at risk with untested, unregulated and potentially unsafe devices and liquids."
“The UK Royal College of Physicians has acknowledged this kind of ‘do nothing’ approach will only perpetuate smoking rates and can lead to worse public health outcomes[1].”
“According to the ABS Director of Health Statistics, Louise Gates[2], since 2014-15 the adult daily smoking rate is “unchanged”.
“That’s three years of trying and failing to help Australians quit. The facts are clear – we need to try something new to help reduce smoking rates."
Background
A 2018 CSIRO review[3] said smoke-free products like e-cigarettes and vaporisers do not produce smoke – and as most of the health risk comes from the combustion of tobacco – it means they are healthier for smokers and the people around them.
There are now more than 50 scientific studies which show vaping is less harmful than cigarettes or can help people quit smoking for good.[4]
[1] https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/nicotine-without-smoke-tobacco-harm-reduction-0
[3] https://www.csiro.au/en/research/bf/areas/nutrition-and-health/e-cigarettes-report
[4] https://www.legalisevaping.com.au/latest_research
Facts about Vaping:
Vaping is 95% safer than smoking cigarettes
Vaping offers a 60% better quit rate over going cold turkey
In the UK alone, E-cigarettes could be contributing to at least 20,000 successful new quits per year and possibly many more.
Nicotine vaping is legal in the US, Canada, NZ, the UK, and throughout the EU
It is illegal to even possess nicotine vapes in all states and territories, with penalties of up to $45,000 and 2 years in prison.
For more information or to learn more about Legalise Vaping Australia, go to www.legalisevaping.com.au.
MEDIA CONTACT
Brian Marlow , Campaign Director, Legalise Vaping Australia, bmarlow@taxpayers.org.au +61 439 138 826
Legalise Vaping Australia