SENATORS URGED TO VOTE DOWN LABOR’S PRO-BLACK-MARKET VAPE BILL

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) is calling upon Senators to vote against the Albanese Government’s failed prohibition vaping laws and instead strictly regulate vapes for adults only, like alcohol and tobacco.

AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said the overwhelming driver of Australia’s youth vaping crisis is Labor’s existing vaping ban, which has led to over 120 million illegal vapes being sold each year by criminals through the black market who don’t care what they are selling, where they are selling and who they are selling to.

“Prohibition of a mainstream adult consumer product like alcohol or tobacco in any country has always led to the creation of an out-of-control black market enriching criminals, wasting taxpayer dollars and introducing crime into our communities.” Mr Foukkare said.

“Strictly regulating and controlling vaping products for adults-only has been shown to reduce youth vaping rates by more than 65 per cent in the United States, and 19 per cent in New Zealand, yet Labor continues to push prohibition laws that haven’t been proven to work in any other country.

“Economic modelling commissioned by AACS has shown that using the same tax and adult-regulation approach that has been proven in Europe and Canada would not only raise more than $9 billion in revenue; it would also restrict access to kids and decrease the rate of growth in adult vapers, which grew by 30 per cent last year, with now over 1.7 million adults vaping, according to Roy Morgan.

“Making matters worse is the Health Minister’s Bill before the Senate that promotes vapes as a medical product, which absolutely sends the worst message to kids that vapes are somehow therapeutic goods,” Mr Foukkare said.

“Australians know vapes are not medicines, and they expect vapes to be strictly regulated and sold by licensed retailers to adults only – like any other adult product such as alcohol and tobacco.

“With Redbridge Group research finding over 80 per cent of voters want vapes regulated in the same way as alcohol and tobacco, this commonsense solution to Labor’s youth vaping crisis seems apparent to everyone except for this out-of-touch Labor government.

“Politicians should listen to the experts, like criminologist Dr James Martin, who appeared before this Bill’s inquiry stating that supporting this Bill will only increase the black market, enabling criminals to continue to make billions in profit by targeting Australian kids.

“Senators need to send a clear message that continuing with the same failed prohibition model that has led to Australia’s youth vaping crisis is not acceptable by voting against this Bill.

Theo Foukkare is available for interview on 0423 003 133