2 August 2024
From 1 July 2024, community pharmacies became the only place to legally purchase vapes.
It’s the latest in the government’s crackdown on vaping. From 1 October, vapes will be available over the counter without a prescription in pharmacies.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) is against this move.
“We were gobsmacked, and questioned why we were not involved in the conversation [about] this very important issue,” PGA Vice President Mr Anthony Tassone said.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, TerryWhite Chemmart, Priceline, National Pharmacies, Blooms and Pharmacy 777 pharmacy groups as well as many independent pharmacies opposed making vapes available over the counter.
Many pharmacies have come out saying they will not support stocking vaping products at all.
“Pharmacists are healthcare professionals and community pharmacies do not want to supply this potentially harmful, highly addictive product without a prescription,” Tassone said.
“We welcome any initiatives that are going to reduce the likelihood of having vapes in the hands of kids and teenagers, but having non-prescription availability through community pharmacies is not the solution.”
The move to make vapes available in pharmacies without a prescription comes after almost all disposable vapes were banned from being imported into Australia in January 2024.
In March, an import ban for all vapes and vaping hardware – not just disposable vapes -unless the importer had a special license and permit was added.
But six months after the crackdown came into effect, news reports suggest it hasn’t done much to stop people vaping or to stop the import of the brightly coloured, flavoured disposable vapes that have become a ubiquitous sight.
If pharmacies are to be the solution, one key issue raised by the PGA is how the sale of vapes at pharmacies will be overseen.
“Vape sales will not require any recording or monitoring, so how do we ensure safety and appropriateness?” Tassone pointed out.
The PGA fears this lack of oversight could mean vapes could be stockpiled from multiple pharmacies and sold to children and teenagers. According to the PGA, around 70% of teenage vapers already source their vapes from other individuals rather than direct purchase.