The Marshall Liberal Government will today bolster the protection of children from the ill-effects of tobacco by banning the advertisement, promotion and online sale of e-cigarette products.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the legislation was another step towards limiting pathways for young people to progress to to both e- cigarette and tobacco smoking.
“Building on the laws that started 31 March 2019, will now be an offence to advertise and promote e-cigarette products, display e-cigarette products at the point of sale and sell e-cigarette products by indirect means, including online sales,” Minister Wade said.
“We are committed to protecting the community from the potential harms of e-cigarettes. Banning the promotion, advertisement and online sale of e-cigarettes minimises the risk of minors getting access to these products.
“Our children are impressionable and it is important they receive the right messages to make informed health and wellbeing choices as they mature towards adulthood.”
E-cigarette retailers have had a six-month transition period to make the required changes to their business, and from today will receive penalties for failing to comply with the regulations.
All retailers have a responsibility to not sell or supply e-cigarette products to any person under the age of 18 and penalties for businesses who fail to meet the regulations will be up to $20,000 for a first offence and up to $40,000 for a subsequent offence.
State Director of Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA), Marina Bowshall, said the new laws will protect South Australians from the effects of smoking.
“While we don’t know the full health effects of e-cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes generate an aerosol or vapour for inhalation which is potentially harmful,” Ms Bowshall said.
“This is an important public health measure to reduce the exposure to the effects of e-cigarettes and to bring South Australia in line with most other states and territories.
“This precautionary approach will protect the health of the community, including children, while still allowing adults to access these products and we will continue to monitor research into the health effects of e-cigarettes.”
In South Australia, it is an offence to sell or supply e-cigarettes to a person under the age of 18 years, use e-cigarettes in a public smoke-free area, and provide free samples, prizes, or gifts relating to e-cigarettes.
