A NEW Dept of Health impact analysis report has revealed that 450,000 people will seek out a prescription with sale of vapes being restricted under the Govt's new regime (PD 04 Jan).
Currently, only about 70,000 of the country's 1.3 million vapers use a GP prescription.
Consumers could be paying a lot more for vapes under the new rules, with the report estimating people will fork out up to $150 for a refillable vaping device from their pharmacy.
The costings assume people will go to the GP for a script twice a year, and visit the chemist every month, with consumers spending $52.1 million a year in GP and pharmacy visits, and up to $67.5 million on vaping products.
The Health Dept stated a total regulatory burden of about $60 million would be justified if just 200 individuals avoided taking up tobacco as a result.
"In balancing economic impact against public health outcomes, public health must be given more weight," the analysis explained.
But it also warned of risks.
"Fears that extra regulation may incentivise growth in the black market for nicotine vapes must also be acknowledged...this is a legitimate risk as tighter regulation will often raise the risk of black-market sales," it added.
See the full report HERE.
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