Surge in NSW vape retailers, as more than 600 stores join trade before federal crackdown

Exclusive: Imports by retailers of nicotine and non-nicotine vapes will soon be banned but new data reveals drastic increase in shops selling the products

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More than 600 additional shops began selling vape products in New South Wales in the first half of 2023, a drastic increase that occurred despite the federal government announcing tough reforms that will ban sales from convenience stores.

The sharp rise comes despite laws that dictate that the only legal way to buy nicotine-containing vapes is from a pharmacist with a prescription from a doctor.

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