See how much you spend on vaping — and what you could save by quitting.
Since 1 October 2024, adults (18+) can buy nicotine vapes at 20 mg/mL or less directly from a pharmacy without a prescription, after a short consultation with the pharmacist — no GP visit required. A prescription from a GP (or authorised prescriber) is still needed for anyone under 18, or for higher-strength or non-standard products.
Disposable (single-use) vapes are banned entirely regardless of nicotine content — only refillable devices meeting current TGA standards (tightened further from 1 July 2025) can legally be sold. Importing vapes outside these rules is illegal and can result in fines.
These rules have changed several times since 2021 and may change again — see our quit smoking & vaping guide for a quick eligibility check, or talk to your pharmacist or GP.
While vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking combustible cigarettes, it is not harmless. E-cigarette aerosol contains ultrafine particles, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and flavouring chemicals whose long-term health effects are not yet fully understood.
Nicotine is highly addictive regardless of how it is delivered. The best outcome for your health is to be free of both smoking and vaping.
If you are using vaping as a tool to quit smoking, work with your GP to develop a plan to eventually quit vaping too.