Sydney Inner West Council to Regulate Tobacco and E-cigarette Stores

The Inner West Council in Sydney, Australia has now decided to prevent the spread of tobacco and e-cigarette shops in the Inner West area.

Mayor Darcy Bain's mayor's special report, proposing new regulations to limit and reduce the number of these stores, has been unanimously approved. The council is seeking new regulatory powers to implement the reforms, including:

All tobacco and e-cigarette shops are required to submit development applications before opening to restrict and reduce the total number of these stores in New South Wales and the Inner West region. This will limit the ability of these stores to open near schools and areas where children gather. Baird stated, "There are already over 19,000 registered tobacco shops in New South Wales, and tobacco and e-cigarette shops are spreading in every community and main street. It is time to put a stop to it.

New liquor stores are required to submit a complete development application and a social impact assessment, whereas tobacco shops can currently open for business with just a few forms. For example, the "Tobacco Candy Store" in Dartwich Mountain is a shameful example of how these stores target our children. It is time to draw a line and regulate these establishments.

A large number of tobacco and e-cigarette shops opening near elementary and middle schools pose a real threat to children's health and must be restricted. We are seeking regulatory authority to prevent and reverse the proliferation of these businesses on our streets, especially on the main roads that children use to travel to and from school.

As the federal government attempts to ban e-cigarettes, thousands of new tobacco shops are opening every year without any restrictions. Allowing these stores to expand rapidly in every suburb and town in New South Wales after decades of tobacco advertising bans is absurd. Now is the time for action.