Australia has seen a significant decrease in the smoking rate over the past decades. The
was approximately 11 percent in 2019, down considerably from around one-quarter of the population in 1991. This rate represents one of the lowest smoking rates among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. Australia has pioneered the fight against smoking by implementing strict anti-smoking laws, such as banning smoking in all public enclosed spaces, indoor workplaces, public transport, and some public outdoor spaces. In addition to restrictions on where people in Australia can smoke in public, the tobacco and smoking industry in the country has also been subjected to strict plain packaging laws and increasing tobacco taxes to discourage smoking.
Smoking: an expensive addiction
The declining number of smokers in Australia may relate to the prices of cigarettes in the country, which are amongst the
highest in the world. Compared with the
global average price of around five to six U.S. dollars, a packet of cigarettes in Australia can cost upwards of 26 U.S. dollars or around 40 Australian dollars. Put into context, a pack-a-day smoker in Australia would spend over 12 thousand Australian dollars on cigarettes annually. Not only is smoking and tobacco use a considerable financial burden, but the associated health risks are significant. Thousands of chemicals can be found in cigarettes containing tobacco; at least 70 are considered carcinogenic. Despite decreasing smoking rates in the country, tobacco use remains the leading cause of cancer in Australia. Leading to the death of around 24 thousand Australians each year, it is considered one of the largest preventable causes of death and disease. Even for current smokers, quitting has considerable benefits, including reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and dying from smoking-related diseases.
The rise of e-cigarettes and vaping
Revenue of the worldwide e-cigarette industry is projected to increase continuously in the years to come, reaching around 28 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. In some parts of the world, including a number of countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia,
e-cigarettes are completely banned. In Australia, e-cigarettes rank among the most used tobacco products, however, recent changes to the laws surrounding the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices containing nicotine may bring this rate down. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not produce tar, however, e-cigarettes have been found to contain a wide range of chemicals and other hazardous substances. During testing conducted by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, around
one-third of vaping products containing nicotine did not comply with the prohibited ingredient requirements, raising cause for concern around the risk of the products, which are particularly
popular among younger Australians.
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