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How Old Do You Have To Be To Vape In Australia?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Vape In Australia?
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For newbies, vaping can be very confusing. Even for ex-smokers, getting to grips with the basics of vaping—what it is, how it's done, what's different about it, which strength to use, what flavours taste the best, and which vape to buy---can be difficult. Many people wrongly assume that vaping is uber complicated, expensive, and requires a lot of equipment to get started with---this simply is not the case.

For most people, the difficulties and confusion stop there. For people in Australia, however, there is something else standing in the way---Australia's vaping laws. When it comes to vaping, Australia is something of an anomaly.

Whilst there are many vapers in Australia today, it is an area that is heavily regulated, and these regulations vary from state to state. From how old you have to be to vape to what you can and cannot buy within Australia's borders, we are going to explain it all and tell you how you can legally buy vaping products in Australia with a valid prescription.

How Old Do You Need to Be to Vape In Australia?

Age restrictions are perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the legality of vaping in Australia, and they are an important piece of the legal puzzle.

In Australia, you must be 18 to do anything vape-related. If somebody under the age of 18 is caught with a vape then the authorities have every right to seize it from them.

Additionally, some states have regulated the use of vapes in cars where children under the age of 16 are present.

Australia's Vaping Laws in General

As mentioned above, Australia is a peculiar country when it comes to its vaping laws. They are somewhat inconsistent, and many commentators have called them unnecessarily harsh.

So, how do people get a hold of vapes in Australia, then? It's very simple!

How to Acquire Vaping Products in Australia

If you want to buy vaping products that contain nicotine, such as nicotine vape juice, in Australia for personal use then you must have a valid nicotine prescription. With a valid prescription from a licensed Australian doctor, you can legally order nicotine vaping products for personal use from an overseas supplier, as is permitted under the TGA's Personal Importation Scheme.

As of 1 October 2021, Australians are required to have a valid prescription for nicotine from their doctor in order to purchase nicotine-containing vaping products. You can learn more about nicotine prescriptions here.

Australia is currently developing its e-cig regulations. The sale of e-cigs is controlled by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA has publicly stated that there are no laws preventing the importation of vaping products for personal use unless state laws say otherwise, so long as the individual is buying such products for personal use and holds a valid nicotine prescription from a licensed doctor.

Getting Vape Products Into Australia

Even if you do reside within a state that heavily regulates vapes and other vaping products, it may still be possible to buy them online or purchase them from an Australian pharmacy, assuming you have a valid prescription.

You do this by purchasing your products from a supplier that is based outside of the country and only buying a three months supply or less. As previously noted, you must also have a valid prescription for nicotine e-cigarettes. It's that simple.

It is important that your order amounts to $1,000 AUD or less. This is due to customs restrictions. Packages that exceed a value of $1,000 will attract additional customs fees which can get rather expensive. The $1,000 limit applies to the package's original, undiscounted price; if you are ordering products during a sale, it is the original, undiscounted price that is used to calculate the package's total value.

Ensure that you do not exceed a three-month supply, otherwise, customs may seize and destroy your package.

Australia's Vape Juice Ban

Even if you do manage to get your hands on vaping hardware in Australia, you won't be able to purchase vape juice that contains nicotine at a local convenience store or local vape shop. That is because the sale of nicotine e-liquid at local stores in Australia is banned, with the exception of Australian pharmacies.

Understanding Nicotine Concentrations

Nicotine-containing vape juices generally come in the following concentrations:

  • 3mg/mL
  • 6mg/mL
  • 12mg/mL
  • 18mg/mL
  • 24mg/mL
But some brands offer concentrations as high as 36mg/mL and higher. That's a concentration that provides a similar 'nicotine hit' as heavy smoking. You can read our nicotine strength guide to learn more about choosing the right concentration.
6 November 2019
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