Oz Ban Is Misguided
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates says that Australia’s disposable vapes ban is “a puff in the wrong direction” and “misguided”
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by Dave Cross
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“While the details of the new regulations are shrouded in smoke, reports suggest that Australians may now face up to $150 for a prescription to access vaping products,” said Nancy Loucas, a public health policy expert and passionate advocate for tobacco harm reduction and executive coordinator of CAPHRA.
“This not only creates an unnecessary financial burden but also ignores the substantial body of research indicating that vaping is a less harmful option compared to combustible cigarettes,” said Ms Loucas.
The government's decision seems to be a knee-jerk reaction that disregards the potential public health benefits of vaping as a harm reduction tool. It is a well-established fact in the scientific community that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, and it has been instrumental in helping countless smokers quit.
“If the Australian Government wanted to see the success of vaping in reducing smoking prevalence, all they had to do was cast their eyes across the ditch to New Zealand,” added Loucas.
Yet the move to restrict access to vapes is likely to have the unintended consequence of driving former smokers back to combustible cigarettes, a giant step backward in the fight against tobacco-related diseases. It is a decision that not only clouds the future of harm reduction but also ignites concerns about the Australian government's commitment to public health.
Ms Loucas continued: “We call on the Australian Government to reconsider this decision and to align its policies with the overwhelming evidence that supports vaping as a harm reduction strategy. It is time to clear the air and acknowledge that vaping can play a crucial role in reducing the harm caused by tobacco use.”
“For a nation that prides itself on its progressive stance on public health, this regressive step is not just a bad policy—it's a health hazard.”
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. Its mission is to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.
CAPHRA says it remains committed to advocating for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases.
“We encourage further research, open dialogue, and collaboration with governments, health organisations, and stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcomes for public health.”
References:
- The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates - https://caphraorg.net/
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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