The percentage of children aged 14 to 17 who have ever vaped has dropped in the last two years, according to the Cancer Council.
The figures are from its Generation Vape Project, which surveys young people every six months.
In 2024, the Government passed a law restricting the sale of vapes to pharmacies.
Report findings
The Cancer Council survey found that 85.4% of those aged 14-17 have never vaped. This is up from 82.5% in April 2023.
Of those who had vaped, around a quarter had purchased their own vape, down from around a third in early 2024.
Fewer teen participants reported having friends who vape than in previous surveys, while curiosity about vaping also dropped, with less than a third of young people who had never vaped expressing an interest in it.
Exposure to vape advertising on social media has dropped, with the number of participants who had seen vape ads on TikTok halved since early 2024.
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Participants also expressed embarrassment about vaping, saying in interviews with researchers that they did not want to be considered a “vaper.”
Only 6% of respondents said they had ever smoked cigarettes.
Govt crackdown
The Cancer Council’s report said new laws passed by the Government “show early signs of success” in reducing vaping rates and access.
Advertising for vapes is now mostly banned, and they are only legally sold at pharmacies.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the data is a positive sign that vaping rates among young Australians have “turned a corner.”
