Three convenience stores on the Northern Beaches are among the first to be temporarily shut down over the sale of illicit tobacco products following new powers granted to NSW Health.
The powers allow the State Government to enforce 90-day closures on vendors selling illicit tobacco and vape goods. Among the first suburbs to feel the wrath of the new laws are Seaforth, Collaroy and Newport, which saw three stores receive closure orders as of 13 November.
Federal representative for Mackellar and former GP Dr Sophie Scamps, who has strongly advocated against the sale of vapes, particularly to children, welcomes the new laws – but believes stricter enforcement is still needed.
“We have had these tobacco shops popping up all throughout our community, and it’s a real concern to people who live here. Look at this one. It’s right near a bus stop, and it’s got all these chocolates and soft drinks which lure the children in,” Dr Scamps told Manly Observer, standing outside one of the closed stores in Collaroy next to where multiple students were waiting for a bus.
“They should not be allowed to be anywhere near children, schools, playgrounds, or bus stops. We need to be far tougher on regulating them and far tougher on enforcing. Up until recently, it’s been left up to the health officials to police the sale of illegal tobacco. That needs to change.”
Currently, NSW Health has approximately 50 inspectors operating throughout the state. Although NSW Police can be called upon for assistance by these staff, they are not authorised to independently enforce the seizure of illicit tobacco or vape goods.
The three stores hit with closure orders on the Northern Beaches were Adel’s Convenience Store on Ethel Street, Balgowlah, Beach Mart on Pittwater Road, Collaroy and Newport Min Market on Barrenjoey Road, Newport. They were hit for the sale of illicit tobacco as well as tobacco products without a retail licence.
Northern Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains and South Western Sydney regions were targeted by NSW Health with support from NSW Police a fortnight ago. The operation saw the closure of six stores and the seizure of over 100,000 illicit cigarettes, close to 20kg of other illicit tobacco products and almost 1,800 illegal vapes. Since then, 18 other stores have received temporary closures.
A previous issue for the government with stores selling these illicit products is the reoffending rate after a penalty has been enforced. Stores often go back to unlawfully selling vapes and tobacco even after hefty fines due to the high profit rate.
The customer demand for the products remain high – these are high addictive products and nicotine users say an illegal packet of cigarettes can save them more than $50 in government taxes per packet. For a pack a day smoker, the weekly savings are substantial.
Although there isn’t a more severe reoffending penalty, a local court can rule to extend a closure order from 90 days to 12 months. Continuing to sell products from closed premises can also result in fines upwards of $135,000 and imprisonment.
Dr Scamps has criticised the pace at which the State and Federal Governments have enforced laws surrounding the sale of vapes, calling for caps to be placed on the number of tobacconists allowed to operate in an LGA and restrictions on their distance from schools.
Enforcement around vapes has been tightening since the introduction of new laws in July last year.
The major changes were introduced under the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill, which prohibits any store outside of a pharmacy from selling or advertising vape products. People over 18 are now also allowed to purchase an over-the-counter vape from a pharmacy without a prescription, following a chat with a pharmacist.
Since January 2025, NSW Health has reported conducting more than 1,260 retailer inspections, including those on the Northern Beaches, and seized over 11.8 million cigarettes, over 2,000kg of other illicit tobacco products and around 170,000 illegal vaping goods with a combined estimated street value of around $18.9 million.
NSW Health is encouraging the public to report if premises with a closure order are still trading by calling their Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412 or via the online portal.
Editor’s note: Need help quitting nicotine? The I Can Quit government resources and particular the APP can be very useful – it certainly helped me a decade ago!
