Australia to ban recreational vaping in major public health move
Recreational vaping will be banned in Australia, as part of a major crackdown amid what experts say is an "epidemic".
Minimum quality standards will also be introduced, and the sale of vapes restricted to pharmacies.
Nicotine vapes already require a prescription in Australia, but the industry is poorly regulated and a black market is thriving.
Health Minister Mark Butler says the products are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts in Australia.
Also known as e-cigarettes, vapes heat a liquid - usually containing nicotine - turning it into a vapour that users inhale. They are widely seen as a product to help smokers quit.
But in Australia, vapes have exploded in popularity as a recreational product, particularly among young people in cities.
Vapes are considered safer than normal cigarettes because they do not contain harmful tobacco - the UK government is even handing them to some smokers for free in its "swap to stop" programme.But health experts advise that vapes are not risk-free - they can often contain chemicals - and the long-term implications of using them are not yet clear.Read full story
Source: BBC News, 2 May 2023