South Australia to Expand Ban on Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use in Public Places

People's Daily reported from Sydney on April 14 that on the 13th, the South Australian government proposed to expand the ban on smoking tobacco and using e-cigarettes in public places to further reduce the number of people smoking and using e-cigarettes.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the South Australian government will prohibit the public from smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes in places such as schools, shopping centers, beaches, and children's sports fields. Additionally, it will ban cigarette vending machines in licensed venues and increase the fines for selling or supplying tobacco to minors.

It is reported that the fines for providing tobacco to children will increase from 1,200 Australian dollars to 2,400 Australian dollars, and the maximum fine for first-time offenders will increase from 5,000 Australian dollars to 10,000 Australian dollars. The maximum court fine for businesses will increase from 20,000 Australian dollars to 40,000 Australian dollars.

Marina Boshoul, Director of the South Australian Drug and Alcohol Services, believes that this plan will help reduce smoking and e-cigarette use in the state. She stated, "Tobacco is a leading cause of preventable diseases and a significant factor in the deaths of South Australians."

South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton stated that this measure aims to curb e-cigarette use among young people and reduce the chances of exposure to secondhand smoke. He pointed out that the e-cigarette usage rate among the 15 to 29 age group has risen from 1.1% in 2017 to 7.8% in 2022. Picton believes that banning cigarette vending machines will reduce minors' access to cigarettes, further decreasing the likelihood of underage smoking.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers also expressed his concerns about the "explosive growth" of e-cigarette use in Australia on the 11th, stating that the upcoming Australian federal budget may include measures to prevent people from using e-cigarettes. He said, "The increasing number of people using e-cigarettes and tobacco is unacceptable. This is not just a budget issue; more importantly, it is a social issue we face."

Chalmers pointed out that as more Australian residents begin to use e-cigarettes, traditional tobacco sales have declined, resulting in a $5 billion reduction in tax revenue for Australia in this fiscal year.

According to existing Australian regulations, nicotine e-cigarettes can only be purchased by adults with a prescription, and illegal sales and possession of e-cigarettes are prohibited. However, nicotine e-cigarettes are gradually becoming popular among teenagers in Australia and are viewed as a normal consumer product. The Australian federal government is working with states, territories, and health experts to explore ways to reduce the number of residents using e-cigarettes in Australia. (Interns Yang Yuxin, Dong Siyang)