The first stage of a national crackdown on vaping begins on January 1 with a ban on the importation of single-use vapes in what health experts say will help address growing rates of nicotine dependency among young people.

The new regulations mean it will be illegal to buy disposable vapes from overseas, irrespective of their nicotine content or therapeutic claims.

There is also a new process enabling doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe therapeutic vapes, and they will only be available through pharmacies.

It comes ahead of even tougher regulations set to come into force from March.

Why is the Australian government cracking down on vaping?

They are flavoured, colourful and popular with teenagers, but vapes aren't good for you in the short-term and it's still unclear what long-term health impacts they could pose.

The Australian Health Minister Mark Butler warned, vaping was creating a "whole new generation of nicotine dependency in our community”.

Both the Australian government and health experts have blamed this on a thriving black market of nicotine vapes, which are often incorrectly labelled as nicotine-free and illegally sold in shops.

"We know that disposable vapes, particularly the flavoured ones that are laced with high concentration nicotine, are the devices favoured by young people, so preventing these from coming into Australia is an important first step."

So let's start 2024 believing that if Australia can make such a bold move why then there is no good reason for the UK not to follow. 

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