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Quick links to detailed datasheets for Australia at gsthr.org

Smoking in Australia

Adult tobacco smoking prevalence is at 11% (with 9.3% of women and 12.9% of men).

Read articles from Australia

December 19, 2025 by afr.com

Tobacco tax take to dwindle to almost nothing

Illegal tobacco has significantly reduced Australia's tobacco excise tax revenue, with projections showing a $22.3 billion decline by 2028. A former Australian Border Force officer warns that tax collection from tobacco could be minimal due to the impact of illegal tobacco trade.

December 12, 2025 by 1news.co.nz

Black market cigarettes more prevalent than legal in Australia

Over half of cigarettes bought in Australia are from the black market, costing taxpayers up to AU$11.8 billion yearly and impacting public health and safety. The illicit tobacco trade undermines efforts to reduce smoking rates, with the black market share estimated at 55-60%. The high excise rates led to this surge, with legitimate packs now over AU$40 while illicit packs go for less than AU$15. Lowering excise rates could increase revenue but risks health consequences, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement. Shuhyta advocates against excise reduction, urging smokers to choose legal options to combat the illicit market and its associated risks.

November 05, 2025 by australianpharmacist.com.au

Nicotine inhalators discontinued: are vapes an alternative?

Although it was somewhat kept under wraps, nicotine inhalators – produced by companies such as Pfizer and Kenvue – have been discontinued. Are Pharmacist Only vapes the next best alternative? Deepali Gupta, an advanced cardiac pharmacist at Queensland Health and co-chair of the Statewide Smoking Cessation Working Group, first heard rumours in mid-2024 that nicotine inhalators would be discontinued. ‘It started with some reports from overseas,’ she said. ‘The reason for the discontinuation was that the resin needed to make the mouthpieces can no longer be sourced.’ This development impacts a significant group of patients with mental health conditions, many of whom have higher smoking rates and currently rely on inhalators as part of their nicotine replacement therapy.

November 05, 2025 by australianpharmacist.com.au

Nicotine inhalators discontinued: are vapes an alternative?

Although it was somewhat kept under wraps, nicotine inhalators – produced by companies such as Pfizer and Kenvue – have been discontinued. Are Pharmacist Only vapes the next best alternative? Deepali Gupta, an advanced cardiac pharmacist at Queensland Health and co-chair of the Statewide Smoking Cessation Working Group, first heard rumours in mid-2024 that nicotine inhalators would be discontinued. ‘It started with some reports from overseas,’ she said. ‘The reason for the discontinuation was that the resin needed to make the mouthpieces can no longer be sourced.’ This development impacts a significant group of patients with mental health conditions, many of whom have higher smoking rates and currently rely on inhalators as part of their nicotine replacement therapy.

November 05, 2025 by australianpharmacist.com.au

Nicotine inhalators discontinued: are vapes an alternative?

Although it was somewhat kept under wraps, nicotine inhalators – produced by companies such as Pfizer and Kenvue – have been discontinued. Are Pharmacist Only vapes the next best alternative? Deepali Gupta, an advanced cardiac pharmacist at Queensland Health and co-chair of the Statewide Smoking Cessation Working Group, first heard rumours in mid-2024 that nicotine inhalators would be discontinued. ‘It started with some reports from overseas,’ she said. ‘The reason for the discontinuation was that the resin needed to make the mouthpieces can no longer be sourced.’ This development impacts a significant group of patients with mental health conditions, many of whom have higher smoking rates and currently rely on inhalators as part of their nicotine replacement therapy.

November 05, 2025 by australianpharmacist.com.au

Nicotine inhalators discontinued: are vapes an alternative?

Although it was somewhat kept under wraps, nicotine inhalators – produced by companies such as Pfizer and Kenvue – have been discontinued. Are Pharmacist Only vapes the next best alternative? Deepali Gupta, an advanced cardiac pharmacist at Queensland Health and co-chair of the Statewide Smoking Cessation Working Group, first heard rumours in mid-2024 that nicotine inhalators would be discontinued. ‘It started with some reports from overseas,’ she said. ‘The reason for the discontinuation was that the resin needed to make the mouthpieces can no longer be sourced.’ This development impacts a significant group of patients with mental health conditions, many of whom have higher smoking rates and currently rely on inhalators as part of their nicotine replacement therapy.

November 05, 2025 by australianpharmacist.com.au

Nicotine inhalators discontinued: are vapes an alternative?

Although it was somewhat kept under wraps, nicotine inhalators – produced by companies such as Pfizer and Kenvue – have been discontinued. Are Pharmacist Only vapes the next best alternative? Deepali Gupta, an advanced cardiac pharmacist at Queensland Health and co-chair of the Statewide Smoking Cessation Working Group, first heard rumours in mid-2024 that nicotine inhalators would be discontinued. ‘It started with some reports from overseas,’ she said. ‘The reason for the discontinuation was that the resin needed to make the mouthpieces can no longer be sourced.’ This development impacts a significant group of patients with mental health conditions, many of whom have higher smoking rates and currently rely on inhalators as part of their nicotine replacement therapy.

October 22, 2025 by miragenews.com

Stronger Laws Tackling Illicit Tobacco And Vapes

The ACT Government will increase enforcement against illegal smoking products through the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 2025. This bill aims to combat illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes by granting authorities new inspection and penalty powers. The reforms also enhance seizure provisions and officer safety measures. This initiative follows the alignment of vaping laws with federal regulations. Additionally, the government plans to provide substantial funding for smoking and vaping cessation support services. These measures signal a strong stance against illicit tobacco trading, emphasizing collaboration with other jurisdictions.

October 20, 2025 by spiked-online.com

Australia’s tobacco wars are coming to Britain

Illicit tobacco trade fuels gang violence in Australia due to high taxes and restrictions. The black market thrives, leading to fire-bombings and criminal activity. Illegal tobacco funds organized crime, human trafficking, and terrorism. The UK risks facing similar issues with rising tobacco duty and planned bans. Prohibition exacerbates the problem by empowering criminal networks and harming local businesses. New Zealand abandoned a smoking ban to prevent black market escalation, focusing instead on education and reduced-risk products, resulting in a significant decrease in smoking rates among young teenagers by 2024. It's crucial for governments to address illicit tobacco trade effectively to prevent violence and criminal activities.

October 15, 2025 by abc.net.au

As illicit tobacco sales rise into the billions, economist Arthur Laffer puts blame on high tobacco taxation rate

Internal tobacco industry data suggest that illicit tobacco now accounts for 64% of all tobacco and 82% of total nicotine consumed in Australia. As of September, the black market is estimated to be worth nearly $10 billion. This surge in illegal tobacco use has caused federal tobacco excise revenue to plummet—from over $16 billion in 2020 to $7.4 billion in 2025—with further declines expected. In addition, the federal tobacco excise increased by another 5% last month, on top of regular indexation.