Tougher legislation to combat discourage cigarette use and vaping is set to be introduced in parliament this week. The government aims to reduce the national smoking rate to five percent by 2030.
Under the new laws, cigarette packages would feature updated and extended graphic warnings, even at the individual cigarette level. Additionally, the legislation seeks to outlaw additives like menthols and impose advertising restrictions on vapes, aimed at stamping out vaping altogether.
Tobacco-related deaths claim around 20,000 Australian lives annually, making it the leading cause of preventable death and disability in the country.
Should the laws pass, the size and design of cigarette packets and products would be standardised, and filters would undergo uniform changes. Furthermore, both cigarettes and vapes would be prohibited from using enticing names that suggest reduced harm such as ‘light’.
Health promotion inserts would also become mandatory in packs and pouches.
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