Suburbs like Reservoir are seeing more vape shops opening – targeting school children as their market.
A new tobacco and vape shop is opening 10 metres from the main entrance to Reservoir East Primary School, despite the Australian Government announcing a crackdown on the operation of such stores.
13% INCREASE IN CHILDREN VAPING
Cancer Council Victoria have found a shocking increase in e-cigarette use by children, with fewer than 1% of 14-17-year-olds vaping in 2018, but that figure skyrocketing to 14.5% in early 2023.
SAFETY CONCERNS FOR CHILDREN
Many students cannot enter the school without passing directly past this store. Hundreds of secondary students also pass through this location to attend nearby Reservoir High School.
LACK OF ENFORCEMENT
Despite the Federal Health Minister announce reforms that will ban the import of nicotine and non-nicotine vapes and vape products, with only licensed pharmacists permitted to import and sell them, these stores continue to open – right next to our schools!
STORES SPECIFICALLY TARGETING CHILDREN
While it is illegal for vapes to be sold to children, Quit Victoria says retailers are attracting young people to their stores by selling confectionery and sugary energy drinks alongside fruit-flavoured e-cigarettes.
This store is just one example of something that we know is happening across the country. Tackling it will take co-operation from Federal, State and Local Government.
DAREBIN COUNCIL
As the local government authority, Darebin Council is responsible for issuing business permits.
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT
The Victorian Government are responsible for the management of smoking and vaping laws.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
The Federal Health Minister has committed to legislation that will ban the sale of vapes outside of pharmacies, but a timeline on this legislation is yet to be announced.
take action
To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria
The petition of residents of Victoria draws to the attention of the House an increase in the number of vape shop opening in close proximity to primary schools in Melbourne suburbs.
The dangers of vapes, e-cigarettes and vape products are well documented, including the increased risk that they pose to children as a normalising process for nicotine consumption. Even though the retail sale of e-cigarette products containing nicotine is prohibited in Victoria unless supplied by a pharmacy with a medical prescription, products that do not contain nicotine are being marketed towards children which only increases their future use of nicotine products. Cancer Council Victoria have found a shocking increase in e-cigarette use by children, with fewer than 1% of 14-17-year-olds vaping in 2018, but that figure skyrocketing to 14.5% in early 2023. Research from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation found that 32% of young people who have ever used a vape, have used one in the past month.
The Australian Government recently announced incoming restrictions on the importation of illegal vapes, as well as a commitment to work with states and territories to end vape sales in convenience stores and other retailers. This is a welcome step, but clearly requires more work on the enforcement end.
The current Victorian laws ban vaping within the grounds of, and within four metres of entrances to childcare centres, kindergartens, pre-schools, and primary and secondary schools. This is clearly not enough to deal with the rapid expansion of vape stores that are increasingly located near these locations.
The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:
- Outline proposed enforcement of laws in Victoria that restrict the sale of vapes, e-cigarettes and vape products, including a timeline for their enactment.
- Introduce planning laws that would ban the selling of vapes, e-cigarettes and vape within 100 metres of schools, kindergartens, community centres and other civic spaces.