Australia's war on vaping a spectacular fail

Overnights with Phil O'Neil

Phil speaks with Dr Joe Kosterich, a GP who says Australia’s crackdown on vaping has backfired badly. He compares it to alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, claiming the only winners are criminals.

While smoking kills around 20,000 Australians a year, nicotine itself isn’t the main danger—it’s the chemicals from burning tobacco.

But instead of focusing on harm reduction, he says politicians have waged war on nicotine, fuelling a black market for cigarettes and vapes and over 100 firebomb attacks.

His solution? Follow New Zealand’s lead—make vaping as accessible as cigarettes to reduce both smoking rates and crime.

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