Illegal vape markets continue to prosper despite over a hundred store closures in Western Australia

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A new report has revealed the illegal vape market continues to prosper amid the closure of more than 100 vape stores across WA. Experts say while federal reforms introduced last year are having an impact, more needs to done to combat the lucrative black market.

Transcript

00:00They're enticing to kids and look like sweets, but their popularity is in decline thanks

00:08to new laws.

00:09The vape stores are gone, the stores that we're selling them are distancing themselves

00:15from that.

00:16New research from the University of Notre Dame finding almost all 194 bricks and mortar

00:23WA shops where vapes were sold have either closed or stopped selling them.

00:28After federal legislation took effect in July last year, prohibiting the sale, supply or

00:35possession of vaping products without a doctor's prescription.

00:38The availability of the product has reduced, the visibility of the product has reduced and

00:43that's what the legislation was aiming to do.

00:45However, the report also found vapes are still easily accessible at some convenience stores.

00:52Researchers visiting 32 inner Perth stores in June last year finding…

00:5814 of them were selling vapes quite openly.

01:01There were really visible product displays on the counter, signs saying like vapes here,

01:05price lists on the counter.

01:06I went to a convenience store here in Northbridge and was almost immediately offered several

01:13types of vapes when I asked for them.

01:15The worker showing me different flavours, pulling up a box from behind the counter.

01:20The asking price?

01:22$50 in cash.

01:24Police insist those not following the rules will be held accountable.

01:28Police are looking at you, Australian Border Force are looking at you, Australian Federal

01:32Police are looking at you and Department of Health are looking at you.

01:34The State Government says strengthening WA's vape legislation is a priority.

01:40And the next piece of the puzzle is the size of the penalty.

01:43In South Australia and Queensland in particular, we've seen very big penalties applied and when

01:47they're applied, the bloke down the road who might still be doing it thinks twice before

01:53breaking the rules.

01:54Working to ensure the vape crackdown doesn't go up in smoke.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended