Australia's tobacco black market branded ‘global laughing stock’ as illegal rates trump dozens of countries
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 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 shu…
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 nicoti…
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
