Smoking rates have been declining over the years, but the increasing popularity of vaping, especially among young adults, poses a new challenge. The NSW Health data of 2021 reveals that 11% of people aged between 16 to 24 are vape users, twice the number recorded in 2020. This rapid uptake of vaping among young people threatens decades of progress in reducing smoking rates, and tobacco companies are seizing this opportunity to tap into the Australian vape market.
In an attempt to promote the legalisation of vape retail, tobacco companies are using marketing tricks to influence policymakers and the general public. British American Tobacco (BAT) is a prime example of this approach. The company is launching Facebook campaigns against vapes in schools while promoting fun-flavoured, bright-coloured vapes that attract young people. BAT is disguising itself as a responsible corporate citizen by using the Responsible Vaping Australia website and Facebook page. However, its post, which calls for help to keep vapes away from children, provides a link to a campaign to legalise vaping in Australia. This tactic cleverly evades Meta's rules against advertising tobacco and vape products on Facebook and Instagram.
The tobacco industry's marketing strategy to target young people is not new. Internal documents revealed during litigation against big tobacco companies in the past exposed how BAT executives used Formula 1 racing, popular live bands, DJs, toys, and video games to target the youth market while lobbying for raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 18. Today, BAT's Vuse vaping product is associated with Formula 1 through its partnership with McLaren Racing. BAT has also partnered with the Tomorrowland dance music festival in Belgium and promoted International Women's Day and fashion events. This marketing approach is the same as that used by the company for decades, with the only difference being that this time, a vape replaces the cigarette.
University of Sydney public health experts Associate Professor Becky Freeman and Professor Simon Chapman, both agree that the government regulators will not be fooled by the tobacco industry's lobbying agenda. Professor Chapman is confident that the government is unlikely to agree to the industry's proposals to deregulate the sale of vapes. The Cancer Council supports this view, and its research published in February found that almost nine in ten Australian adults want policy action to stop a new generation of Australians from becoming addicted to nicotine.
The Cancer Council is calling on the federal government to reinforce the legal prescription sale of vapes by enforcing border controls on the importation of all vaping products to tackle the illicit vaping crisis. The longer we wait to enforce and strengthen existing laws, the more we'll see Australia flooded with these addictive, harmful products. It is essential to resist the tobacco lobby's pressure to relax vape regulations to ensure Australia maintains its low smoking rates in the public interest and for the nation's health.
The Rising Vaping Rates Among Young People in Australia
Smoking rates are at an all-time low, but vaping rates among young people aged under 25 are on the rise in Australia. The NSW Health data of 2021 reveals that 11% of people aged between 16 to 24 are vape users, twice the number recorded in 2020. The rising trend of vaping among young people is a major concern for public health experts, who fear that it will threaten decades of hard-won progress in reducing smoking rates.
The Role of Tobacco Companies in Promoting Vaping Among Young People
Tobacco companies are eyeing the untapped Australian vape market as an opportunity to regain their lucrative ground. To promote the legalisation of vape retail, they are using marketing tricks to influence policymakers and the general public. They present themselves as responsible corporate citizens in launching Facebook campaigns against vapes in schools while marketing fun-flavoured, bright-coloured vapes that are attractive to young people. The use of the Responsible Vaping Australia website and Facebook page by British American Tobacco (BAT) to promote vaping is an example of this approach. While their post calls for help to keep vapes out of the hands of children, it also provides a link to a campaign to legalise vaping in Australia.
The Tobacco Industry's Marketing Strategy Targeting Young People
The tobacco industry's marketing strategy to target young people is not new. Internal documents from previous litigation against big tobacco companies revealed how BAT executives used Formula 1 racing, popular live bands, DJs, toys, and video games to target the youth market while lobbying for raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 18.
BAT's Vuse vaping product is now associated with Formula 1 through its partnership with McLaren Racing. BAT has also partnered with the Tomorrowland dance music festival in Belgium and promoted International Women's Day and fashion events. This marketing approach is the same as that used by the company for decades, with the only difference being that this time, a vape replaces the cigarette.
The Need to Regulate Vape Sales in Australia
The Cancer Council's research published in February found that almost nine in ten Australian adults want policy action to stop a new generation of Australians from becoming addicted to nicotine. The Council is calling on the federal government to reinforce the legal prescription sale of vapes by enforcing border controls on the importation of all vaping products to tackle the illicit vaping crisis.
The approval of over-the-counter sale of e-cigarettes without a prescription to consumers would lead to a three-fold risk of smoking uptake on current trends, according to the Cancer Council. This risk is particularly high for young people, who are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of nicotine addiction.
The Role of Government Regulators in Enforcing Vape Sale Regulations
The government regulators are responsible for enforcing the regulations on the sale of vapes. It is crucial to resist the tobacco lobby's pressure to relax vape regulations to ensure Australia maintains its low smoking rates in the public interest and for the nation's health. University of Sydney public health expert Associate Professor Becky Freeman said that the tobacco companies are speaking "out of both sides of their mouth" and that policymakers need to be vigilant to protect public health.
FAQs
- Why are vaping rates among young people on the rise in Australia?
The rapid uptake of vaping among young people in Australia threatens decades of progress in reducing smoking rates. The NSW Health data of 2021 reveals that 11% of people aged between 16 to 24 are vape users, twice the number recorded in 2020.
- How are tobacco companies promoting vaping among young people in Australia?
Tobacco companies are using marketing tricks to influence policymakers and the general public. They present themselves as responsible corporate citizens in launching Facebook campaigns against vapes in schools while marketing fun-flavoured, bright-coloured vapes that are attractive to young people.
- Why is it important to regulate vape sales in Australia?
Regulating vape sales in Australia is essential to prevent a new generation of Australians from becoming addicted to nicotine. The approval of over-the-counter sale of e-cigarettes without a prescription to consumers would lead to a three-fold risk of smoking uptake on current trends, according to the Cancer Council.
- How can government regulators enforce vape sale regulations?
Government regulators are responsible for enforcing the regulations on the sale of vapes. It is crucial to resist the tobacco lobby's pressure to relax vape regulations to ensure Australia maintains its low smoking rates in the public interest and for the nation's health.
- What is the Cancer Council's stance on vaping in Australia?
The Cancer Council is calling on the federal government to enforce and strengthen the legal prescription sale of vapes by enforcing border controls on the importation of all vaping products to tackle the illicit vaping crisis. The Council warns that the longer we wait to enforce and strengthen existing laws, the more we'll see Australia flooded with these addictive, harmful products.
Conclusion
The rising trend of vaping among young people in Australia poses a new challenge to public health experts, who fear that it will threaten decades of progress in reducing smoking rates. Tobacco companies are using marketing tricks to influence policymakers and the general public, presenting themselves as responsible corporate citizens while promoting fun-flavoured, bright-coloured vapes that are attractive to young people.
It is crucial for government regulators to enforce and strengthen regulations on the sale of vapes to prevent a new generation of Australians from becoming addicted to nicotine. The Cancer Council's research found that almost nine in ten Australian adults want policy action to stop this trend. The government regulators must resist the tobacco lobby's pressure to relax vape regulations to ensure Australia maintains its low smoking rates in the public interest and for the nation's health.
No comments:
Post a Comment