Harm Reduction Policy Built Australia's Tobacco Black Market
June 22, 2026 by wrdnews.org
Harm Reduction Policy Built Australia's Tobacco Black Market
Australia’s tobacco black market shows what happens when policy abandons harm reduction. High cigarette taxes, strict vaping rules and limited legal access to safer nicotine products have helped create space for illicit trade to grow. When smokers are priced out or blocked from lower-risk alternatives, demand does not disappear — it moves into unregulated markets. Better policy should reduce smoking-related harm without handing supply to criminals.
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
