10 years of preventive health in Australia. Part 4 – extending gains in tobacco control
Becky Freeman A *A
Abstract
Ten years ago, Australia’s tobacco plain packaging laws significantly shifted the tobacco control landscape. The smoking rate for people aged ≥18 years has continued to decline from 16.4% in 2013 to 11.1% in 2022–23. In 2023, the tobacco control policy inertia that had occurred since the introduction of plain packaging was finally addressed with the passage of a comprehensive package of reforms. These measures focus on tighter regulation of tobacco products. However, in recent years the tobacco control discourse in Australia has been hijacked by the surge in vape use. In June 2024, the Australian Government passed legislation that closed significant loopholes in vaping legislation. The now strict controls on where vapes can be sold highlight the lack of control over the supply of cigarettes. An expert group to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is preparing a report for the next Conference of the Parties that will consider a broad range of measures including how and to whom tobacco products can be sold, what types of tobacco products can be sold, and what structural changes could be made to the tobacco industry. This presents an opportunity for Australia to once again implement transformative, world-first policies. As the tobacco industry continues to develop new products that exploit vagaries in public health policy, so too must tobacco control continue to evolve.
Keywords: cessation, cigarette, e-cigarette, plain packaging, tobacco, tobacco control, smoking, vape.
References
1 Young JM, Stacey I, Dobbins TA, Dunlop S, Dessaix AL, Currow DC. Association between tobacco plain packaging and Quitline calls: a population‐based, interrupted time‐series analysis. Med J Aust 2014; 200(1): 29-32.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
2 Dunlop SM, Dobbins T, Young JM, Perez D, Currow DC. Impact of Australia’s introduction of tobacco plain packs on adult smokers’ pack-related perceptions and responses: results from a continuous tracking survey. BMJ Open 2014; 4: e005836.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
3 Freeman B. Australia’s decisive win on plain packaging paves way for other countries to follow suit. The Conversation. 2020. Available at https://theconversation.com/australias-decisive-win-on-plain-packaging-paves-way-for-other-countries-to-follow-suit-140553 [cited 29 June 2024].
4 Greenhalgh E, Bayly M, Jenkins S, Scollo M. 1.3 Prevalence of smoking—adults. In Greenhalgh EM, Scollo MM, Winstanley MH, editors. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2024. Available at http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-1-prevalence/1-3-prevalence-of-smoking-adults [cited 29 June 2024].
5 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023: Young people’s use of vapes and e-cigarettes. 2024. Available at https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/smoking/young-peoples-vapes-e-cigarettes#more-use [cited 29 June 2024].
6 Davey M. Australia’s new vaping laws explained: where will vapes be sold and when do the changes come into force? The Guardian, 2024. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/26/australia-vape-ban-laws-details-explained-sales-prescriptions [cited 29 June 2024].
7 Scollo M, Bayly M. 13.3 The price of tobacco products in Australia. In Greenhalgh EM, Scollo MM, Winstanley MH, editors. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2024. Available at http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-13-taxation/13-3-the-price-of-tobacco-products-in-australia [cited 29 June 2024].
8 Grogan P, Banks E. Far from ‘mission accomplished’: time to re-energise tobacco control in Australia. Public Health Res Pract 2020; 30(3): e3032016.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
9 Freeman B. Menthol cigarettes will be banned from April 1. Here’s why – and what else is changing. The Conversation, 2025. Available at https://theconversation.com/menthol-cigarettes-will-be-banned-from-april-1-heres-why-and-what-else-is-changing-251920 [cited 28 April 2025].
10 Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. Laws begin a new era of tobacco control – potential graphic health warnings imagery. 2023. Available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/laws-begin-a-new-era-of-tobacco-control-potential-graphic-health-warnings-imagery [cited 29 June 2024].
11 Queensland Government - Business Queensland. Smoking product supplier licensing scheme. 2024. Available at https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/manufacturing-retail/retail-wholesale/smoking-products-licence [cited 29 June 2024].
12 Lee K, Egbe CO, Bianco E, Arora M. The 20th anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: hard won progress amid evolving challenges. Lancet 2023; 402(10402): 592-4.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
13 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Call for experts on Article 2.1 and Article 19 of the WHO FCTC. 2024. Available at https://extranet.who.int/fctcapps/fctcapps/fctc/announcement/call-experts-article-21-and-article-19-who-fctc [cited 29 June 2024].
14 Dyer O. New Zealand’s new government says it will repeal groundbreaking anti-smoking law. BMJ 2023; 383: p2814.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
15 Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. National Tobacco Strategy 2022-2030. Canberra: Australian Government; 2023. Available at https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/national-tobacco-strategy-2023-2030.pdf [cited 29 June 2024].
16 Freeman B. How harmful are nicotine pouches? An expert explains. BBC Science Focus Magazine, 2024. Available at https://www.sciencefocus.com/comment/nicotine-pouches-health-risks [cited 29 June 2024].
