35% Agree Vaping Products Should Be Regulated the Same Way as Tobacco Products

The Australian government has proposed a ban on recreational vaping, including importing e-cigarettes and nicotine refills. Stricter regulations on vaping products are also being considered. Australia’s effective measures to reduce smoking and vaping rates address its rising popularity and potential risks.

As of October 2021, obtaining a prescription is required to access vaping devices legally. However, the recreational vaping ban has been loosely enforced, increasing young people’s vaping. The proposed measures are expected to significantly impact the vaping industry, which is globally valued at billions of dollars. Real Research has conducted a survey on public opinion on Australia banning recreational vaping to gather insights about the recreational vaping ban in Australia.

Highlights:

• Half of the respondents (50.36%) have used vaping.
• Nearly half (48.83%) support Australia’s recreational vaping ban.
• 22.73% say nicotine replacement products are effective in helping quit smoking.

The Australian government has proposed a number of measures to regulate vaping, including:

Banning all disposable vapes, restricting flavors, and reducing permitted nicotine levels.

These measures are still in the proposal stage, and it is not yet clear when they will be implemented. However, the government has made it clear that it is committed to regulating vaping in order to protect public health.

We asked our respondents whether they were aware of the recreational vaping ban in Australia. Most of the respondents (38%) were unaware, while 34% were vaguely aware, and 28% were well aware.

We then asked the respondents whether they had used a vaping device. Half of them (50%) have used a vaping product compared to the other half (50%) who said no.

Recreational Vaping Ban: Right Step for Public Health?

When we asked the respondents if they believed banning vaping products was the right step for public health, almost half of the respondents (49%) said yes, while 20% said no, and 31% remained unsure.

We then asked the respondents about placement products such as gum, patches, and vaping devices, which are more effective in helping people quit smoking. Results revealed that 23% of the respondents said that nicotine replacement products are effective, followed by 19% who said neither is effective, 14% said they are equally effective, and 12% said vaping devices are more effective.

Meanwhile, 32% remained unsure.

Read Also: 42% Have Been Smoking Cigarettes for Less than Six Months

Debate Ignites: Should Vaping Products Face Equivalent Regulation as Traditional Tobacco?

We surveyed our respondents to see if they believe vaping products should be regulated in the same way as traditional tobacco products. Results revealed that 43% of respondents somewhat agreed and 35% totally agreed. On the other hand, 17% somewhat disagreed and 5% totally disagreed.

In the following poll, the respondents were asked to identify the most effective measures that the government can take to reduce smoking and vaping rates in Australia.

According to the survey results, 22% of respondents expressed support for international collaboration in implementing comparable bans and regulations. Meanwhile, 17% advocated for public education campaigns to raise awareness about associated health risks, enforce stricter marketing and sales regulations, and increase taxes on cigarettes and vaping products to discourage their use.

Additionally, 12% suggested investing in smoking and vaping cessation programs for society. Finally, 15% of respondents selected other factors as their preferred approach.