United States youth vaping rates in freefall: debunks major Anti-vaping claims!

• Australia’s prohibitions on vaping products are no longer credible

• Governments must move immediately to strict regulatory model to starve the black market

• US experience shows strict regulation of vapes as consumer product can protect teens

Media release

For immediate distribution

US Government data showing vaping among American teens fell by almost 30% in the past year is the latest evidence that Australia’s black-market-supporting approach to e-cigarettes is failing the nation, Legalise Vaping director Brian Marlow said today.

The National Youth Tobacco Survey 2023, published by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday, found incidence of e-cigarettes among high schoolers fell from 14.1% last year to 10.0% this year.

Vaping products in the US are sold as consumer products. Almost all US states require a license for retailers to sell e-cigarette products, and all 50 states have passed legislation prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to underage persons.

This is similar to the approach long-proposed by Legalise Vaping Australia.

“The credibility of Australia’s approach to so-called regulation of vaping products is in tatters,” Mr Marlow said.

“A black market is operating freely and openly, selling completely unregulated e-cigarette products to anyone who wants them, including our youths.

“We agree that young people should not be vaping and support the federal government in its goal of eliminating the use of e-cigarettes by young people.

“Where we differ is the approach. Australia’s attempts to get everyone to use prescriptions to access e-cigarettes has been a complete failure.

“There are now well over 1.5 million adult vapers in Australia. Maybe a hundred thousand people, tops, have prescriptions. Doctors don’t want to prescribe vapes and pharmacists don’t want to sell them.

“The sooner the federal government moves to implement a strict licensing regime with controlled products sold to adults by responsible retailers, the sooner we can follow the US in achieving a rapid reduction in youth vaping rates.

“We call on the media to confront the public health activists and elites, who have been opposing common sense regulation of e-cigarettes as an adult consumer product, with the simple facts. Other countries do not have this crisis on their hands and the solution is simple,” Mr Marlow said.

Brian Marlow is available for interviews: 0439 138 826