Shock new data shows smoking and vaping rates are surging among young Australians despite the sweeping ban on vapes.
Young people aged 18 to 24 now have the highest rate of smoking or vaping of any age group in Australia, with 28 per cent (700,000 people) reporting they engage in one or both habits. That’s up from 25.1 per cent (620,000) in September 2024 – a sharp 2.9 percentage point increase in under a year.
Almost a fifth (20.5 per cent, or 510,000) of this age group now vape, up from 19 per cent (470,000). It marks the highest vaping rate recorded among young adults since early 2024.
Smoking rates have jumped
More concerningly, factory-made cigarette (FMC) use has also jumped. The proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds smoking FMCs rose from 8.2 per cent (200,000) to 11.1 per cent (280,000), while roll-your-own tobacco use also increased, from 7.1 per cent to 7.6 per cent.
These spikes come despite legislation introduced on 1 July 2024, banning the importation, production, supply, advertisement, and commercial possession of disposable, non-therapeutic vapes. It is now illegal to buy vapes outside of pharmacies.
But new figures released this week by data research firm Roy Morgan suggest the policy is falling short and may even be pushing young users back toward traditional, and far more dangerous, tobacco products.
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said: “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, and the raw number of Australians who smoke or vape has increased.”
Surge in illicit tobacco sales
The crackdown is also fuelling a surge in illicit tobacco sales, with unlicensed shops multiplying across major cities, especially Melbourne and Sydney.
One major Sydney newspaper reported there are now 60 tobacco retailers for every McDonald’s restaurant in New South Wales (NSW), with many operating illegally.
In response, the NSW Opposition announced on Sunday it will introduce new legislation to target the black market and tighten enforcement.
Risks for a new generation
NSW Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane said the government’s failure to act was allowing organised crime to thrive.
“We can’t risk a new generation getting hooked on cheap cigarettes and destroying their health because the [Chris] Minns Government failed to act on enforcement and tougher penalties,” she said.
Nationally, 17.1 per cent of Australians aged 18 and over now smoke cigarettes, RYO tobacco or vape – up from 16.8 per cent at the end of 2024. The increase is being driven largely by FMCs, which jumped from 7.9 per cent (1.67 million) to 8.3 per cent (1.79 million), adding 120,000 new users.
Overall adult vaping sees only minor decline
Meanwhile, adult vaping saw only a minor decline. Currently, 7.5 per cent of the adult population (1.61 million) vape – down just 0.2 percentage points since September 2024.
The uptick isn’t uniform across all age groups. While 18 to 24-year-olds saw sharp increases, usage fell by 0.7 per cent among 25 to 34-year-olds, 0.4 per cent in the 50–64 bracket, and 0.2 per cent in those aged 65 and over. No change was recorded in the 35 to 49 demographic.
Taken together, the figures suggest the Albanese government’s efforts to stamp out non-therapeutic vaping have backfired, particularly among the young people they aimed to protect.In June it was revealed that black market vape sales in Australia are now outstripping legal ones by almost 1,700 to one.
