Episode

Smoking Declines But Illicit Tobacco Rises | Melbourne News

Podcast
Melbourne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!
Published
Jul 16, 2026
Duration seconds
90
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not_requested
Canonical source
https://sources.thednn.ai/65aee030b7f334c5
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https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/f109fe51-6345-48b4-bfaf-cda546d31d50.mp3
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/v1/public/podcasts/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/episodes/smoking-declines-but-illicit-tobacco-rises-melbourne-news
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Summary

Australia’s daily smoking rate just hit a new low—down to 5.6%, beating government targets and with over two-thirds of adults never having smoked. But there’s a twist: illicit tobacco use has more than doubled to 34%, fueled by high legal taxes. Experts warn cutting taxes won’t fix it—stronger enforcement is key. Meanwhile, overall nicotine use, including vaping, is falling, though new illegal products like nicotine pouches are gaining ground with youth. The big win? Fewer smokers overall. The real challenge? Taming the black market. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/65aee030b7f334c5