Australia Thought It Beat Smoking. Then the Black Market Took Off
February 02, 2026 by bloomberg.com
Australia Thought It Beat Smoking. Then the Black Market Took Off
The chain-smoking protagonist of Mad Men should be far removed from the life of a modern young Australian — particularly when it comes to tobacco. Australia has been a global leader in anti-smoking policy. Cigarettes there are among the most expensive in the world and are sold in plain packaging plastered with graphic health warnings. Yet just as authorities believed they were winning the battle against smoking, experts say the country is facing a new tobacco crisis. While overall smoking rates continue to fall, research shows progress in reducing teen smoking has slowed — likely due to vaping, which researchers say can act as a gateway to cigarettes.
11.00% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 2.4 million current smokers in Australia 12.90% of men are current smokers but only 9.30% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
