Victoria’s health promotion agency has called for an overhaul of vaping regulations ahead of the November election, warning a new generation could become addicted to nicotine if the state does not act.

VicHealth’s chief executive, Dr Sandro Demaio, said there had been an “explosion” of young people using e-cigarettes in the state, despite it being illegal to sell or supply the devices to under-18s – regardless of whether they contain nicotine.