Cancer Council SA supports new government policies to crack down on smoking and vaping

Cancer Council SA commends the government on their announcement today which will see tough new laws to stub out smoking and vaping in South Australia.

This new South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy will see South Australia lead the nation in providing smoke free spaces to protect community members from exposure to smoking and vaping by implementing bans in a range of outdoor public spaces.

Chief Executive Kerry Rowlands said that Cancer Council SA welcomes today’s announcement and the Government’s commitment to driving down smoking and vaping rates in South Australia.

“Cancer Council SA has a proud history of working with the community to reduce smoking rates over the past 40 years.”

“Our hope is that the announcement today not only strengthens the bans around smoking and vaping use in South Australia, but also educates the community on the fact that vaping is just as dangerous as smoking.”

“Today’s announcement compliments Cancer Council SA’s Tackling Tobacco Program which works with Community Service Organisations whose clients are Aboriginal, people living with disability or mental illness, to support their clients to quit smoking.”

Smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death and disease in our community and can cause 16 different types of cancer.

8.2 per cent of South Australian adults smoke daily and this new strategy aims to drive down smoking rates to a national low of below 6 per cent by 2027, while also putting stricter measures in place to restrict e-cigarette use.

Cancer Council SA Prevention and Advocacy Manager Christine Morris said that the rate of e-cigarette use in the community, especially amongst young people, is concerning.

“We know that young people who vape are around three times more likely to take up smoking than non-vapers so we welcome these changes that will protect young South Australians from future risk of nicotine addiction.”

“There are over 200 chemicals in a standard e-cigarette which are linked to detrimental health impacts so it’s really encouraging to see the government take tangible steps to ban e-cigarette use in line with smoking restrictions.

Notes to editor:

Cancer Council SA can comment on the following in relation to today’s announcement:

• Health impacts of both smoking and e-cigarette use
• E-cigarette use amongst young people
• Support to quit both smoking and e-cigarettes through Quitline
• Advice for parents of young people who have taken up e-cigarettes
• Smoking rates amongst at risk communities