How many adult Australians vape?
Posted on October 22, 2022 By Colin
THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 1,300,000 current adult (18+) vapers in Australia, or about 5.5% of the adult population. A tiny minority of vapers (5-10%) have a nicotine prescription as required by Australia’s draconian prescription-only laws.
These estimates are based on the following recent surveys
- Roy Morgan Survey 2023
1.3 million current adult vapers - Roy Morgan Survey 2022
Roy Morgan Research surveyed 4,500 adults monthly nationwide from July 2021-June 2022. An estimated 1,159,000 adults were current vapers (had vaped at least once in the last month). The survey found that 5.8% of all adult Australians vape and 12% had a prescription. - The Victorian Smoking and Health Survey 2022
In Victoria, 308,827 adults were current e-cigarette users in 2022 (vaped at least once in the last month). Assuming vaping rates are similar across all states, there were 1,229,266 current adult vapers Australia-wide (in an adult population of 20,039,723). Only 8.6% of vapers had a prescription. - National Drug Strategy Household Surveys 2016, 2019 (AIHW)
In 2016, there were 238,782 vapers aged 14+. In 2019 the number had risen by 120% to 522,753. Assuming the same increase over the next 3 years, an estimated 1,150,035 Australians aged 14+ vape in 2022. Removing the 14-17 year-olds from the totals leaves an estimated 1,099,365 adult vapers in 2022, which is 5.4% of the adult population (as of 20,434,267 in March 2022 - ABS data). - Tobacco Industry estimates
One of Australia’s leading tobacco companies estimates that 1,130,000 adult Australians now vape. - National Illicit Drug Reporting System 2022
The 2022 survey found that only 3% of vapers had a nicotine prescription.
These numbers only include current vapers. Many smokers have quit with vaping and no longer smoke or vape
The horse has bolted
The numbers are a clear indication that vaping nicotine has been embraced by Australia’s smokers as a safer alternative to deadly smoking. In the 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, vaping was Australia's most popular quitting aid, used by 22% of smokers to quit or reduce smoking. By comparison, only 1.8% used Quitline.
This is despite Australia’s harsh restrictions on vaping and constant false and alarmist media reports and negative messaging from the federal and state governments, health charities and medical associations.
How many current Australian smokers would now be vaping if they were given truthful information about the harms of vaping compared to smoking and were encouraged to switch by health authorities, like the UK and NZ governments?
Smokers, vapers and doctors have rejected the prescription-only model. Less than 5% of doctors are willing to prescribe nicotine e-liquid. Only 5-10% of vapers have a nicotine prescription and are forced to commit a criminal offence in order to improve their health
Time for change
When a large number of Australians tell lawmakers that something is working well for them, they should listen carefully and respectfully.
Australian governments need to accept that the harsh restrictions regulating vaping in Australia have been a resounding policy failure. In fact, they have made things worse, creating a thriving black market and skyrocketing youth vaping rates.
On average there are 7,615 vaping voters (and their families) in each federal electorate and a commitment from vapers could change the result of many marginal seats
It is time to bring Australian regulations into line with other western countries and support the shift to safer nicotine alternatives for adult smokers.