United KingdomAustralia's daily smoking rate has reached a historic low at 5.6% among individuals aged 14 and older in 2025, surpassing the government's 2025 target of under 10%. This decline follows continued efforts such as plain packaging, increased taxation, and anti-smoking campaigns. However, the report highlights a growing shift toward illicit tobacco use, with 34% of current smokers having recently used illegal products—up from 16.7% in 2022–23. Branded illicit tobacco, often sold without health warnings, accounted for 22% of purchases, while unbranded products made up 16%. Over half of illicit tobacco buyers obtained their supply from tobacconists. Despite these trends, overall nicotine use has decreased slightly, with 15.2% of Australians using nicotine in 2025 compared to 17.4% in 2022–23. Experts emphasize the need for stronger regulation and enforcement to combat illicit tobacco rather than reducing taxes.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data from authoritative sources like the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and includes balanced perspectives from public health experts and mentions opposing views regarding taxation policies linked to illicit tobacco. There is no overtly biased language or one
