Australian officials released experimental data on illicit tobacco consumption, showing a dramatic rise in nicotine use and a shift from legal to illegal products. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) used quarterly wastewater samples to estimate nicotine metabolite levels, then allocated consumption to legal cigarettes, illicit cigarettes, e‑cigarettes and other nicotine products. From 2017 to 2025, total nicotine consumption grew 40 %, while legal tobacco quantities fell to less than a third of 2017 levels. Illicit products now account for about 80 % of total nicotine, but spend on them remains under 40 % of household tobacco expenditure because prices are lower. The new estimates modestly change overall household consumption statistics, with GDP impact expected to be negligible.
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This article is a summary of content originally published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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