Earlier this year, the federal government declared war on vaping.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced a blanket ban on disposable vapes, vowing to rid Australia of the e-cigarettes that have ignited a health crisis among teens.

It’s the biggest smoking reforms this country has seen in more than a decade, but there are now concerns that Australia’s world-first blanket ban on vaping without a prescription could actually make the problem worse.

This week, our papers published private correspondence from some members of a government advisory body, who expressed concerns the government’s blanket ban would fuel the black market and end up criminalising more people unnecessarily.

Today, federal health reporter Natassia Chrysanthos and Good Weekend senior writer Tim Elliott on Australia’s vaping problem - and whether the Albanese government’s harsh crackdown is a mistake.

Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.