A Smoke Break

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The Australian government agreed Monday to water down a bill that would make the country the first in the world to ban the sale of e-cigarettes outside of pharmacies, as authorities seek to curb the rising number of youths vaping, Reuters reported.

The governing center-left Labor Party announced it would amend some provisions of the draft law following opposition from the Green party.

The legislation – expected to take effect next week – will ban vapes from retail shelves and only allow them to be purchased in pharmacies “behind the counter.” The original draft would have only provided them with a doctor’s prescription.

But under the amended bill, that requirement will be “down-scheduled” from October – meaning that adults will be able to purchase them without a doctor’s prescription. Individuals under 18 will need a prescription to purchase vapes.

Money has also been earmarked to help support young people trying to quit, while e-cigarettes will be subject to plain packaging and limited flavors, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The amendments came after the Greens expressed opposition to blanket prohibitions, warning about the costs Australians would incur from visiting a doctor for a prescription.

The Labor government does not hold a majority in parliament and needs to cooperate with other parties and independent lawmakers to pass legislation.

Australia has some of the strongest anti-smoking laws in the world: Earlier this year, it banned most vapes and restricted the number of flavors sold.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the government’s “world-leading laws” would return vapes to their original purpose “as therapeutic products to help hardened smokers kick the habit.”

The bill comes as authorities have raised concerns about a new generation of nicotine addicts. Government data has shown that fewer than 10 percent of people between the ages of 14 to 17 in Australia had ever used vapes in 2019. However, that figure increased nearly three-fold to 28 percent by 2023, the Conversation added.