How Many Australians Smoke?
Australia has been a leader in tobacco control: introducing plain packaging, preventing most forms of tobacco advertising and promotion, and setting high tax rates to discourage people, especially youth, from buying tobacco.
These measures have helped reduce smoking to around one in ten people.
But tobacco use is still a leading cause of preventable disease in Australia.
Some Tobacconists Still Target Children
The Australian government recognises the need to reduce the availability of tobacco.
However, when we reviewed the tobacco control laws throughout Australia, we found there are no restrictions on the number of tobacco retailers or where they can operate. This increases the challenge of monitoring them.
There are also minimal restrictions on the types of retailers that can sell tobacco, or what other products specialist tobacconists can sell. People under 18 years are also allowed to enter specialist tobacconists without adult supervision.
Retailers Need Licences – But These Aren’t Capped
Crimes related to selling untaxed tobacco illegally increased substantially from about 2018. There has also been an increase in the number of tobacconist stores. Between July 2022 and June 2023, we estimated the number of tobacconists in Queensland had risen by 18.5%.
Without tobacco retailer licensing, regulators do not have accurate records of who is selling tobacco, where it is being sold, and they have fewer options for dealing with retailers who break the law.
Retailers Need to Adapt to Low Tobacco Sales
Removing operators from the tobacco retailing sector who are illegally selling untaxed products is crucial to reducing the illicit tobacco trade and associated violence.
Some tobacconists have described a downturn in their business turnover as some customers switched to buying illegally supplied untaxed products. This has reduced their commercial viability.
A Long-term Alternative to Tobacco Retail
In the longer term, more reforms are needed to deal with the fundamental problems that arise from retail stores selling tobacco as a commercial product for profit.
One option is pharmaceutical-like regulation of tobacco. This would ensure everyone who buys it receives health education about the risks and advice on how to quit.
Another option is non-profit supply of tobacco, such as has been used for supplying cannabis in other countries. This would see tobacco supplied through non-profit enterprises. Commercial tobacco companies would no longer be involved in marketing or promoting these products.
Expanding access to free help to quit smoking should also be a priority. More than 70% of smokers would like to quit within the next one to two years. They should be supported to do so.
Conclusion
Tobacco control in Australia has made significant progress, but there is still much work to be done. Reforming the tobacco retail sector is crucial to reducing the illicit tobacco trade and associated violence. Retailers need to adapt to the decline in tobacco sales and the government should support them in doing so. In the longer term, pharmaceutical-like regulation or non-profit supply of tobacco could be viable options.
FAQs
Q: How many Australians smoke?
A: Around one in ten people in Australia.
Q: What are the main challenges in reducing the illicit tobacco trade?
A: The lack of restrictions on the number of tobacco retailers, where they can operate, and the types of products they can sell.
Q: What are some potential long-term solutions to the tobacco retail sector?
A: Pharmaceutical-like regulation or non-profit supply of tobacco.
Q: How can retailers adapt to the decline in tobacco sales?
A: By receiving government support, such as advice on alternative products and services, or financial support to exit the industry.
