An Aussie YouTuber has declared he will move overseas after the government introduced new rules banning the importation and sale of vape products.
Samuel Parsons, better known as Vape Bogan, says the tough new laws means he will have to relocate to the United Kingdom to save his YouTube career.
Mr Parsons makes a living reviewing vape products, which come March 1 will be only be available in pharmacies for ns with a prescription from their GP.
‘It’s devastating that it’s come to this, that I’m going to have to leave my mum, dad and sister,’ he told his 185,000 subscribers in a video on Monday.
‘I’ve been doing this a long time and don’t have a lot to fall back in to.
‘So I’ve made the pretty tough decision to move country and go somewhere that does believe vaping is a healthier alternative, that does encourage smokers to access those products and doesn’t make it f***ing hard to access those products.’
Samuel Parsons, better known as Vape Bogan, says ‘s tough new laws on vaping have forced him to move to the United Kingdom to continue his YouTube career
Mr Parsons warned ns who vaped to ‘stock up now’.
‘It’s going to be really expensive to quit smoking legally here in ,’ he said.
‘After the shops run dry later on this year they’ll be able to keep going on for a while but you won’t be able to buy anything online from overseas.
‘And they won’t be able to replenish their stock. So it’ll be Doomsday.’
New legislation introduced from January 1 bans the sale of nicotine vapes in specialised retailers and convenience stores. People will need to get a prescription from their GP in order to buy a vape from a chemist.
Selling nicotine vapes has been illegal since 2021 under laws introduced by the previous Morrison government, but many retailers have continued to sell them.
Mr Parsons said after spending two weeks speaking with industry experts he realised ‘there’s really not much we can do’.
‘I really have no choice but to f***ing leave if I want to continue doing what I love, which is making content and helping people quit smoking,’ he said.
However, in the same video Mr Parsons claimed the new legislation would fail.
Mr Parsons (pictured) makes a living reviewing vape products, which come March 1 will be only be available in pharmacies for people with a prescription in
‘The n Government’s prohibition approach isn’t going to work, the black market is going to go absolutely f***ing bananas, there’ll be all sorts of illegal sales,’ he said his subscribers.
‘All we can hope for is that the government has to review what they’ve done, look at the even bigger mess they’ve created, and hopefully rethink it.
‘This is a healthier alternative – it is the best way to quit smoking. I’m never gonna f***ing stop telling people about it.’
Mr Parsons said as his wife has dual UK citizenship, his family would be able to relocate without too much hassle – but it would still be expensive.
Visas will set them back $10,000, with a visa expedited fee, a health care surcharge and flights for four people expected to cost thousands of dollars.
‘It’s an extremely costly exercise, so I’m asking for a little bit of help,’ he said.
Mr Parsons has asked his subscribers to donate to a GoFundMe page so he can relocate his family to the UK and keep making videos.
On January 1, the government banned the importation and sale of single-use disposable vapes in with all vape products to be banned in March
He said those who donated more than $100 would receive a video of him personally thanking them for their contribution.
As of Wednesday night, the campaign has raised $4,600 of its $10,000 goal.
The YouTuber said he was excited to attend vape expos across Europe and live in a country that was ‘pro-vaping’.
Health Minister Mark Butler last week warned businesses still selling illegal vapes that they’re going to have to find another way to make money – but refused to explain just how he was going to stop the booming illegal trade.
Daily Mail proved the trade in the now illegal vapes continues across despite the import ban on disposable vapes coming into force.
In the Sydney suburb of Newtown, at least 20 independent and chain stores are selling illegal nicotine vapes, illicit cigarettes and other devices that can be purchased without ID checks.