Smoking in Australia
In Australia, smoking is legal and tobacco products are subject to regulations. Cigarettes are allowed for sale and use and can be legally purchased in stores, online, and through vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is also allowed with a license. Furthermore, health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, the minimum legal age for their purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Cigarettes are subject to an excise tax value of 67.88% and a total taxation rate of 76.98%. Despite these measures, smoking still poses a significant public health concern in Australia. As of 2024, the country had approximately 2.4 million current smokers, representing a current smoking prevalence of 11% among adults aged 15 years and older. The prevalence was recorded to be 12.5% in 2022. The current prevalence was higher among males (12.9%) than among females (9.3%) in 2024. In 2021, smoking led to an estimated 12,838 deaths, including 7,833 deaths among males and 5,005 among females. Overall, smoking was attributable to 7.33% of all deaths in the country, including 8.44% of male deaths and 6.07% of female deaths.
Read articles from Australia
June 09, 2026 by abc.net.au
SA government says illicit tobacco prices increasing in response to store crackdown
South Australia’s crackdown on illicit tobacco is highlighting the scale and resilience of the illegal cigarette market. Reports of rising black-market prices suggest enforcement may be disrupting supply, but also show how strong consumer demand continues to sustain organised illegal trade. The situation raises wider questions about whether high tobacco taxes, restrictive nicotine policy and limited access to lower-risk alternatives are creating conditions in which illicit markets can thrive. Effective public health policy must reduce smoking-related harm while avoiding approaches that push consumers further into unregulated supply chains.
June 08, 2026 by substack.com
When Reality Becomes Inconvenient: Croakey's Refusal to Learn from Australia's Tobacco Disaster
Evidence on smoking, vaping and nicotine use does not always fit neatly into dominant public health narratives. When data challenge assumptions, the response should be careful analysis rather than selective interpretation. In tobacco policy, inconvenient evidence is too often dismissed when it supports harm reduction. Better regulation depends on confronting real-world outcomes, not only reinforcing established positions.
June 05, 2026 by skynews.com.au
Australia's tobacco black market branded ‘global laughing stock’ as illegal rates trump dozens of countries
Australia's severe tobacco black market problem is termed a "total failure of policy" after Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a 40% increase in national nicotine consumption from 2017 to 2025, with illicit products making up 80% of tobacco use. This far surpasses similar data from European nations, Canada, and New Zealand. Former police detective Rohan Pike criticized public health advocates, stating that Australia's anti-tobacco policies are flawed and ineffective, and suggested a fresh approach. KPMG reports show varying rates of illegal tobacco consumption in European markets, Canada, and Latin America, emphasizing the prevalence of contraband products globally. FTI Consulting noted a significant 27.2% of illicit tobacco consumption in New Zealand in 2024.
June 04, 2026 by straitstimes.com
Australian state cracks down on illegal tobacco shops as nicotine use surges
Victoria, Australia, is increasing efforts to combat illegal tobacco sales due to a surge in nicotine use. A$1.50 federal tax per cigarette aims to deter smoking, resulting in high prices spurring illegal tobacco sales. Proposed laws would empower authorities to close down offending businesses, with penalties of up to A$2.4 million and 20 years of jail. The rise in nicotine consumption, up by 40% from 2017 to 2025, is linked to illegal products and e-cigarettes. Approximately 80% of nicotine products consumed in 2025 were from the black market. Prices of legal tobacco have tripled due to yearly excise hikes, while illegal tobacco prices remain stable per ABS data.
June 04, 2026 by reuters.com
Australian state cracks down on illegal tobacco shops as nicotine use surges
The Australian state of Victoria on Thursday introduced laws to give authorities more powers to shut down businesses selling illegal tobacco, as new data showed nicotine use has surged across the country. Australia charges a federal tax of about A$1.50 ($1.07) on each individual cigarette to discourage smoking. As a result, a pack of cigarettes can cost more than A$60, with high prices blamed in part for fuelling a rise in illegal tobacco products.
June 03, 2026 by straitstimes.com
Australia’s nicotine use soars 40% on black market cigarettes
Rising illegal tobacco trade in Australia has led to a 40% increase in nicotine consumption, despite strict anti-smoking policies. Experts suggest that high prices for legal cigarettes have fueled the black market, where prices are significantly lower. Illicit cigarettes, accounting for up to 80% of consumption in 2025, are imported by criminal groups to avoid heavy taxes. Australia, known for its anti-smoking measures, has seen a significant growth in illegal tobacco consumption, challenging efforts to reduce smoking rates. The price difference between legal and illegal tobacco products has made the latter more accessible and affordable, contributing to increased consumption levels according to a study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
June 03, 2026 by theguardian.com
Nicotine use soars by 40% in eight years as Australian black market explodes
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows a 40% increase in nicotine consumption between 2017 and 2025, mainly due to cheaper illegal tobacco products. Household spending on cigarettes has decreased to 2016 levels as legal cigarette prices tripled. Illegal tobacco now makes up 80% of consumption, impacting government revenue and public health. Debate surrounds whether to lower tobacco excise or increase law enforcement. Australian states are implementing harsh penalties for selling illicit tobacco. NSW is focusing on addressing this issue through legislation. Victoria has introduced strict penalties, including fines up to $370,000 or 15 years in jail for selling illegal tobacco.
May 28, 2026 by medicalrepublic.com.au
It’s time for a new approach to quit smoking, once and for all
Australia’s smoking cessation strategy is facing renewed scrutiny as experts call for a more pragmatic approach to helping smokers quit. Critics argue that current policy has become too restrictive, particularly around vaping, while combustible cigarettes and illicit tobacco remain widely available. The debate highlights growing concern that limiting access to lower-risk nicotine alternatives may undermine cessation efforts for people who have not succeeded with conventional methods. Questions remain over whether Australia’s public health framework can better balance prevention, medical support, harm reduction and real-world smoker behaviour.
May 25, 2026 by pearlsandirritations.com
Australia abandoned harm minimisation on smoking – and fuelled a black market
Australia’s increasingly restrictive approach to smoking and nicotine regulation continues to fuel debate over the unintended consequences of prohibition-focused public health policy. Critics argue that limiting access to lower-risk nicotine alternatives while maintaining high tobacco taxes has contributed to the rapid growth of illicit cigarette markets across the country. Researchers and harm reduction advocates continue to warn that policies focused primarily on reducing nicotine use overall may overlook the behavioural realities of addiction and consumer demand. The debate reflects broader international tensions between harm minimisation, public health objectives, taxation policy, and evidence-based approaches to reducing smoking-related disease and mortality.
May 22, 2026 by internationalcbc.com
Cannabis Enforcement Changes Coming To Australian State
Proposed changes to cannabis enforcement policy in an Australian state are reigniting debate over the effectiveness of prohibition-based drug regulation. Supporters of reform argue that criminal penalties for personal cannabis use may have limited public health benefit while contributing to unnecessary legal and social consequences. The discussion also reflects broader international trends toward harm reduction, decriminalization, and regulatory approaches focused more on public health outcomes than punitive enforcement. As governments continue reassessing nicotine, tobacco, and cannabis policy, questions are increasingly being raised about how regulation can balance risk reduction, consumer behaviour, and evidence-based public health objectives.