E-cigarettes (vaping)

What is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes heat liquids to produce a vapour that looks like smoke, which users inhale. Using an e-cigarette is often called ‘vaping’.

The liquids can contain chemicals and flavourings, like chocolate, bubble-gum and fruity flavours. E-cigarettes might be shaped like cigarettes, cigars, pens or other common items.

Are e-cigarettes legal?

Nicotine vaping products can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. This includes nicotine e-cigarettes, pods and liquid nicotine. This law came into effect under state and territory laws in Australia on 1 October 2021. Possession or use without a prescription is illegal in all states and territories (except South Australia).

It is also illegal to import nicotine e-cigarette products and refills from overseas, without a valid doctor’s prescription. This, however, does not guarantee all e-cigarettes sold legally, are nicotine-free.

Learn more at the Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

You can legally buy e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine. It is illegal, for manufacturers or retailers to make any therapeutic (health benefit) claims about e-cigarettes. For example, they can’t claim that e-cigarettes help people to quit smoking.

It is also against the law, in most states and territories, to use e-cigarettes in legislated smoke-free areas (see ‘Use of e-cigarettes in public places’, below).

Is vaping harmful?

There is not enough research on e-cigarettes to know exactly how they affect your health. There is evidence that suggests a link between vaping and lung disease that requires intensive care.

Most e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco. Yet the toxic chemicals and flavourings in e-cigarettes could be very harmful.

Most products that involve inhaling (breathing in) chemicals into the lungs go through a long testing process before scientists can know if they are safe and effective. These tests have not yet been done on the e-cigarettes available in Australia, so their safety can’t be guaranteed.

Experts are also concerned that teenagers and young people who wouldn’t try ‘real’ cigarettes may be attracted to vaping. There is a risk that e-cigarettes could normalise smoking, and act as a gateway to tobacco cigarettes.

Vaping liquids can harm children

Liquid nicotine refills for e-cigarettes are very dangerous for both children and adults. They are illegal in Australia. Nicotine is a poison that can be absorbed through the skin. Accidental swallowing of liquid nicotine can be deadly.

One teaspoon of liquid nicotine refill is enough to cause permanent damage or even death, especially in children.