Australia announced a sweeping crackdown on vaping Tuesday, accusing tobacco companies of hooking the next 'generation of nicotine addicts' by deliberately targeting teenagers.
AFP | Jose Luis Magana
Australia has long been at the vanguard of attempts to stamp out smoking, and in 2012 became the first country to introduce"plain packaging" laws for cigarettes -- a policy since copied by France, Britain and others. "Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts."
Heavy taxes on tobacco mean Australia already has some of the most expensive cigarettes in the world -- with a pack of 25 selling for around Aus$50 .In theory, it is already illegal to buy nicotine e-cigarettes in Australia without a prescription. But an emerging body of research has shown vapes can also be highly addictive, and often result in young users turning to cigarettes as a way to get their nicotine fix.
"Vapes deliver hundreds of chemicals -- some of them known to be toxic and many others with unknown effects."
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