Study: Specialist e-cigarette stores in Western Australia close after new federal regulations, but convenience stores continue illegal sales

Key points:

·E-cigarette Stores Closing: By September 2024, 117 e-cigarette stores in Western Australia have closed. 

·Convenient stores in violation: Despite regulations being in place, many convenient stores are still illegally selling e-cigarettes, requiring stricter supervision. 

·Regulation Impact: National regulations restrict the sale of e-cigarettes to pharmacies only, aiming to protect the health of young people. 

·Expert Calls: Experts recommend continued monitoring and stricter enforcement to curb the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers.

According to a report by Mirage News on September 3, 2025, a new study has shown that following the implementation of the new Australian federal e-cigarette regulations in 2024, specialized e-cigarette retail stores in Western Australia have closed. However, researchers found that many convenience stores are still violating the rules, prompting experts to call for continued monitoring and stricter enforcement.

The study was led by the Australian Catholic University and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. This research follows the implementation of the national e-cigarette regulations in 2024, which restrict the sale of e-cigarettes to pharmacies only, making selling or advertising e-cigarettes in other retail stores illegal.

Researchers have found that prior to government action in January 2023, 194 physical stores in Western Australia had e-cigarette products as their main product category. By September 2024, three months after the federal e-cigarette regulations went into effect:

All specialized e-cigarette stores and in-store e-cigarette counters have been closed (117 in total). Of the 76 stores that previously sold e-cigarettes and other products, no signs of e-cigarette sales were found. Only one e-cigarette store was observed still openly selling e-cigarettes on the day of the on-site audit.

Professor Lisa Wood, co-author from the Australian National University, stated that these findings are a positive sign that the federal government's national e-cigarette reforms are helping to protect the health of young people. The study quantified the rise and fall of e-cigarette shops in Western Australia. Previously, these shops were very common in our communities. They were often located near schools, openly advertised e-cigarette products to passersby, and attractive window displays and appealing flavors promoted the normalization of e-cigarettes among young people. 

Lisa Wood said, encouragingly, since the implementation of national regulations, all 117 specialized e-cigarette shops we monitored in Western Australia have closed, and specialized e-cigarette retailers are no longer operating on our streets. Additionally, 76 of the shops that previously sold e-cigarettes have also ceased selling them.

However, researchers have found it concerning that many convenience stores in Perth's city center are still illegally selling e-cigarette products under the counter three months after the new regulations were implemented.

Angela Gazey, co-author from the Australian Catholic University, stated, "In June 2024, we visited 32 convenience stores in the Perth city center and found that nearly half were selling e-cigarettes. Three months later, after new national regulations came into effect, 11 of these stores were still selling e-cigarettes. It is disturbing that convenience stores in other parts of Australia are also selling e-cigarettes, associating convenience with the illegal sale of harmful products.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Public Health Association of Australia, Professor Terry Slevin, has stated that this research demonstrates the actual impact of Australia's e-cigarette regulations. "The Australian government took a stand against e-cigarettes in 2024, introducing regulations. Australia's approach has been supported by evidence but is unique. This study shows an early outcome, with e-cigarette shops closing and no longer able to openly sell products on the streets. This is a positive development and is consistent with other research showing a decrease in e-cigarette use among Australian youth. 

Terry Slevin said, the discovery of convenience stores illegally selling e-cigarettes is not surprising. This sector has long been undermining community health efforts, prioritizing profit. Illegal convenience store e-cigarette sales are happening nationwide. This is why public health experts continue to welcome retail surveillance, strict enforcement, border checks, and severe punishment for rule breakers. Let's be clear. E-cigarettes are dangerous. Their ingredients should not be inhaled into young people's lungs. They should not be a means to get children addicted to nicotine or tobacco. It's time to take action now. Action and punishment should be aimed at those profiting from it.