Surveys Results
The "Great To Be Alive Adult Vaping Survey" was the biggest ever survey of it's kind for Australian ADULTS who use vaping products and took place between 26 Novemeber and 26 December 2024.
The survey was done in conjunction with the A.L.I.V.E advocacy movement, a consumer advocacy co-operative with no beneficial ties to any tobacco or vaping entities.
It is important that this data is used to ensure that stakeholders and policymakers have a clearer understanding of the current behaviour(s) of adult vapers.
All participants were verified. (n= 1103)
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Only 0.5% of Vapers are aged 18-20
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97.1% of Vapers are over age 25
94.3 % Of *Dual users
(*smoke & Vape)
said they would be more likely to only vape if their preferred choice of flavour and device was legally available.
98% of Vapers used to smoke daily.
Only 3.4% Of
Vapers Are
Dual Users
(Smoke & Vape)
Vaping Behaviour
Over 73% of former smoking vapers said they had tried at least 3 other quit methods before switching to vaping to be able to fully quit smoking.
Other Quit Methods Tried (%)
61.2 % of former smokers
said they were able to quit completely in less than a week by fully switching to vaping.
79.5 % of vapers said they chose to quit by vaping because they prefer to enjoy nicotine in a less harmful way compared to smoking.
Time Taken To Quit By Vaping
"After 3 years my lung x-ray was clear!"
"My Athsma Attacks Are Now Almost Non-Existant"
"Heart & lung test at specialist. I was over 60yrs old and had my specialist confirm my heart & lungs were that of a 50yr old. Much improved, and at that point I had been vaping for 5 +yrs. But, had smoked previously for over 40 yrs. The improvement was incredible."
Vapers Health Improvements
The Survey Participants
Gender
Women 35.6 %
Men 61.8%
Other 2.6%
Age
All survey participants were at least 18 years of age.
Location
NSW 27.9%
VIC 20.2%.
QLD 22.4%
SA 9.8%
WA 14.2%
TAS 2.8%
NT 0.6%
ACT 2%
By Margins
10.9% Are LGBTIQ
3.3% First Nations
By Location:
Remote 5%
Rural Town 13.2%
Regional 37.1%
Capital City 49.3%
Smokers Quit Sooner In A Legal Regulated Enviroment?
The question asked was:
If vaping devices and nicotine e-liquids had been freely available in a legal/regulated retail model, do you think you could have quit smoking earlier than you did?
- 82 % said yes
- 4.2 % said no
- 12.8% said maybe
97% Of Vapers Disagree With Government Regualations in Australia.
94% of vapers said the laws and restrictions on vaping will influence the way they vote in the 2025 federal election.
95% of Vapers agree it was important to be able to visit a local dedicated vape shop to get advice in regard to devices and liquids.
How Important Are Vaping Specialist Stores ?
Since July 2024 legal Vaping Specialist stores were forced to close as they were tarred with the same brush as black market stores, which in context was clearly an unreasonable move by the Australian Govt.
These were stores that only specialised in vaping products, not tobacco.
74.6% of vapers purchased from a dedicated previously legal dedicated specialist vape shop.
Since 2024 when specialist vape shops were forced to close, black market tobacco and vape shops have replaced them, often in the same location or next door.
Specialist vape shops were able to assist vapers with their requirements to become/remain smoke free.
Black market shops only wish to sell product quickly.
65% of Vapers indicated they would use an online pharmacy to purchase vapes and liquids.
The Role Chemists Have With Vapes.
Since July 2024, the only legal place to purchase vaping products is from chemists. In Tasmania and Western Australia, a prescription is also required. Most chemists don’t stock vaping products and those that do offer only a limited selection. Prices are often up to double what vapers are used to paying, and the available flavours do not align with the preferences of most vapers.
We asked vapers: Do you know of any chemists in your local area who sell vaping products without a prescription?
Only 8% of Vapers indicated they would use a local pharmacy to purchase vapes and liquids.
Why?
87% of Vapers said they wouldn't use a local pharmacy due to flavour restrictions.
85% of Vapers said they wouldn't get a device or parts they prefer to use at a local pharmacy.
74% of Vapers said they wouldn't be able to choose the nicotine strength.
77% of Vapers indicated products at a local pharmacy are too expensive.
59% of Vapers said they're not willing to sit though a consult with a pharmacist.
Where Do Vapers Want To Buy Vapes?
0.4% Of Vapers think nicotine vapes should only be available in chemists with or without a prescription for adults!
95.5% think nicotine vapes should be legalised to be purchased via a dedicated vape specialist or where legal
cigarettes are sold.
Flavours & Packaging
98.4% Of Vapers think vapes should not be restrictcted to tobacco. mint & menthol flavours.
74.4% of vapers would like to see basic ingredients including nicotine strength listed on packaging of vape products,
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Australian Vapers Said:
Vaping should be regulated exactly as cigarettes are, can be purchased anywhere you can buy cigarettes. No flavour restrictions. I am an adult and should be able to purchase whatever flavour I like.
Australian Vapers Said:
As someone who smoked for 30 years and has vaped for over 10 years, the cost savings and health benefits were something I loved about vaping. Surely there are better, enforceable laws we could implement rather than the ridiculous bans now in place.
Australian Vapers Said:
We should make our own choices as tax paying and contributing adults. Same as people who smoke tobacco and drink alcohol.
Australian Vapers Said:
It’s a disgrace how our government is handling it. Obviously driven by money and other profitable agendas rather than the health and wellbeing of the citizens.
Australian Vapers Said:
Vaping has helped me so much. The current Laws are forcing us back to smoking (most lethal option). If Government was serious about helping people why would they include and allow Tobacco flavour as an approved juice flavour. I would never touch this flavour I want to quit tobacco.
Australian Vapers Said:
There will be a black market of vaping products selling to kids for as long as the current vaping regulations are in place. The government should just admit they got it wrong.
Australian Vapers Said:
The ban was short sighted and ignorant, more people vape now than ever before and its chinese garbage instead of clean, pure liquids mixed by professionals who are now out of a job!
Australian Vapers Said:
That its a huge mistake. I quit on vapes and am now stuck. Minors have way more acess to tobacco then a licensed vape shops vape juice. It forces us all back to smoking tobacco, eating our money and killing us.
Australian Vapers Said:
Disposable vapes are a blight on the environment - and no vapes should be sold to under 18s. But why punish every vape user in the country, every business, every individual who wants to quit tobacco?
Australian Vapers Said:
We all know this isn't about the kids being attracted to candy flavours and shiney packaging, if it was we'd have the same laws around alcohol (i.e vodka cruisers) it's also not about people's health otherwise they'd do actual studies surrounding vapes vs cigarettes. It's about the tax.
We asked Vapers:
How stressful has it been for you in the past few years with the constant tightening up of restrictions on vaping?
We asked Vapers:
If you were unable to purchase your preferred flavour or device legally what do you think you will do?
Do you know the nicotine strength (if any) that was in disposable vape that you last purchased?
68.4% had no idea!
Disposable Vapes
Since the Federal Government's ban on disposable vapes, have vapers found that disposables have been easier or harder to find and purchase?
64.3% found it much the same or easier to obtain.
Vapers have far more control over what strength of nicotine and flavours they can use in a refillable device.
Refillable Vape Devices
Most vapers prefer to use a refillable device rather a disposable one, where 84.2% of vapers are unaware of places they can dispose of the devices properly.
86.9% of vapers are still using refillable devices which create far less waste.
Thank you to all who participated in this important survey.
Please feel welcome to share these results far and wide so policy makers can make informed decisions about the future of vaping in Australia.
Adult Vapers Need Flavors
Most adults don't wish to be tortured with a flavour of something they are quitting anymore than an alcoholic should be forced to attend AA meeting in a bar!
The more flavors a vaper uses the better their success of remaining smoke free.
Vapers use this many
flavors each week:
Flavours Adult Vapers Prefer
