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Single photo highlights alarming and illegal ‘Splendour In The Grass’ trend and young Aussies have no idea how dangerous it is
- Festival goers pictured holding vapes
- Vaping hugely popular among young Aussies
- Government wants to ban recreational vaping
An alarming trend among young Aussies has emerged after revellers at a music festival were spotted holding vapes while they enjoyed a wild weekend of partying.
Despite a national ban on the dangerous and highly addictive devices, hundreds of festival goers at Splendour on the Grass were seen using an electronic cigarette.
Eager fans flocked to the Byron Bay parklands from Friday through to Sunday for a packed line-up including Lizzo, Flume and Mumford and Sons.
Attendees flooded social media with pictures and videos showing them dressed to the nines, with a vape as their accessory.
A photo shows three women enjoying the party atmosphere and dancing in front of the stage while sitting on the shoulders of three male festival goers.
Revellers at Splendour on the Grass were photographed sitting on the shoulders of other attendees holding a phone in one hand and a vape in the other
Two of the women are seen holding their mobile phones in one hand and their vapes in the other.
Vaping has exploded in popularity in recent years – particularly among young Australians – as it doesn’t carry the same stigma and price tag as cigarettes.
Chinese-made vapes can be bought for as little as $20 at most convenience stores and tobacconists compared to a packet of cigarettes for $50, despite it being illegal to sell the devices.
It was previously billed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, which dramatically raise the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
But evidence in recent years suggest the electronic alternatives cause similar damage in the body.
Experts advise vaping can be particularly damaging for young people because it damages DNA, promotes tumours and can cause a number of respiratory issues.
A study conducted by the Australian Drug and Alcohol Foundation found 20 per cent of non-smokers had tried vapes and two thirds who smoked cigarettes were also using the disposable devices.
The alarming stats come despite a study showing vapes can contain paint, disinfectant, crude oil and even a drug used to kill fish.
The findings come from an investigation into the contents of 50 over-the-counter vapes done by Curtin University.
More than half of the vapes tested contained chemicals toxic to humans if repeatedly inhaled and some were linked to lung cancer.
The study found the liquids used in 50 vapes bought without prescription included eugenol – which is used to euthanise fish – petroleum, household disinfectant, cosmetics and paint.
Many have completely ‘unknown effects on respiratory health’.
Experts advise vaping can be particularly damaging for young people because it damages DNA, promotes tumours and can cause a number of respiratory issues
Splendour on the Grass attendees were spotted using vapes as they enjoyed the three-day music and arts festival in Byron Bay
Despite a looming national ban on the dangerous and highly addictive devices, young Aussies were seen using vapes
The federal government as announced new regulations on e-cigarettes which will see recreational vaping outlawed
An estimated 400,000 Australians regularly vape and it has become hugely popular among young people, with an estimated one in 10 people between 16 and 24 vaping
