The vaping battle is raging on, and fresh research from the University of Queensland is pouring fuel on the fire. Smoking rates in New Zealand are dropping at twice the speed of Australia’s—coincidence? Not likely. The real difference? NZ embraces regulated vaping, while Australia’s tangled web of restrictions is choking progress.
NZ vs. AUS: A TALE OF TWO STRATEGIES
New Zealand: Winning the War on Smoking
- Smoking rates dropped by 10% per year from 2016 to 2023.
- 9.7% of adults now vape daily.
Australia: A Struggle to Keep Up
- Smoking rates only fell by 5% per year—half the pace of NZ.
- Just 3.5% of Australians vape daily, thanks to strict prescription-only laws.
New Zealand allows regulated vaping products to be sold legally, giving smokers a safer alternative. Meanwhile, Australia’s strict rules have created a booming black market that now supplies over 90% of vapes. The irony? The crackdown isn’t solving the problem—it’s making it worse.
VAPING = HARM REDUCTION (WHEN DONE RIGHT)
The research is clear: making vaping accessible helps smokers quit. The biggest declines in smoking rates have been in young adults and low-income communities, two groups that have historically struggled the most to quit cigarettes.
Vaping isn’t just an alternative—it’s a public health weapon. When governments get it right, smoking rates plummet. When they get it wrong, black markets thrive, and smokers are left with two bad options: cigarettes or dodgy, unregulated vapes.
The research is clear: making vaping accessible helps smokers quit.
THE BALANCING ACT: PROTECTING YOUTH WITHOUT PUNISHING SMOKERS
Let’s be real—no one wants kids vaping. But banning adult access isn’t the answer. The study supports a common-sense approach that protects youth while still giving smokers a legitimate off-ramp.
✅ Strict age verification at licensed retailers
✅ No kid-friendly branding or candy-like flavors
✅ Public health campaigns positioning vaping as an escape from smoking
Bans and over-regulation don’t stop youth vaping—they just push it underground.
UQ RESEARCH: THE SCIENCE BACKS IT UP
A recent University of Queensland study supports what we already knew—New Zealand’s approach is working. Their findings include:
📉 Higher vaping rates = Faster smoking declines
⚠️ Harsh policies fuel black markets & crime
✅ Regulated but accessible vaping improves public health
The takeaway? Balanced policies work. Overreach doesn’t.
THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION: SHOULD MORE COUNTRIES FOLLOW NZ?
New Zealand’s model is delivering real results—smoking rates are plummeting, fewer people rely on dodgy black-market vapes, and overall health outcomes are improving. Meanwhile, Australia’s heavy-handed restrictions are leaving smokers with fewer (and riskier) options. If harm reduction is the goal, why make switching harder?
So, what’s the game plan? Do governments double down on bans, or do they embrace vaping as a tool to kill smoking for good?
What do you think—should more countries follow New Zealand’s lead, or is there a better way?
References:
https://colinmendelsohn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Smoking-and-vaping-NZ-vs-AU-6Feb2024.pdf
https://www.podsalt.com/blog/post/why-australia-should-rethink-its-vaping-laws
https://www.aliveadvocacymovement.com/post/do-the-differing-vaping-and-smoking-trends-in-australia-and-new-zealand-reflect-different-regulatory
https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/09/03/depressed-adolescents-twice-as-likely-to-vape.html
