Latest news with #LabubuStop&Shop
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
'This is beyond belief': Tobacconist slammed for sign marketed to kids
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. A tobacconist in Sydney's inner west has come under fire after displaying the popular children's toy, Labubu, on its signage. Local councillors quickly worked to amend the matter, but people still aren't satisfied, asking for a more permanent solution. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. Image: Instagram / @darcy_byrne. RELATED: Aussies fuming over card surcharge at cashless car park 'This is beyond belief' Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne took to social media late last week to share a photo of a new tobacconist in Marrickville. If the store's contents wasn't bad enough, the store was also called 'Labubu Stop & Shop', complete with imagery of Labubus appearing to be using vapes on its signage. 'This is beyond belief,' he said in his post. 'The latest tobacco & vape shop in Marrickville 'Labubu Stop & Shop'. A picture of the popular children's toy smoking is on the signage.' Byrne asserted that Council would be sending its compliance staff down to act on the issue, affirming that they were also working to crack down on where tobacconists can open. 'This is exactly why we are fighting to have the Government introduce a requirement for development [applications] to be submitted and approved before these shops can open,' he said. 'At the moment all they have to submit is a change of use application (a basic form). 'We welcome the legislation the Minns Government has tabled to crack down on illegal sales of black market vapes and tobacco. But we also want new DA powers to stop the spread of these shops throughout our suburbs.' RELATED: Aussies call out 'predatory' cafe trend costing you money 'My ten year old always wants to go in' The image quickly spread across social media, with parents in particular concerned that the shop was trying to market specifically to children - not just through this sign, but in its alleged contents more generally. 'Behind the counter - vapes, smokes, smoking equipment. Under the counter - dodgy vapes, Chinese smokes. All bright coloured and attractive. Front of the shop? Piles of candy and glitzy American junk food. My ten year old always wants to go in,' one Reddit user shared. 'The TAB isn't allowed to have a front section aimed at bringing in children. Misty's 504 massage can't sell lollipops as well as happy endings. Why tf is a cancer shop allowed to market to my kids?' 'Do you know what the worst thing is? My kid walked past and called it 'the lolly shop',' said a commenter on Instagram. From July 1 2024 - primarily due to its negative impacts on young people - the selling of vapes became illegal across the country, unless done so in a pharmacy. The advertising of vaping goods is also banned, unless expressly permitted by the Therapeutic Goods (Vaping Goods – Advertising) Authorisation 2024. According to the TGA, unlawful dealings with vaping goods - including importation, manufacture, advertising, supply, or commercial possession - carry heavy penalties, including up to seven years in jail, and fines of up to $2.31 million for an individual or $23.10 million for a corporation, per contravention. 'Removing that sign is a token gesture' Thankfully, Inner West Council was quick to update locals, saying that the store's signage - along with similar signage on a tobacconist down the street depicting Mario and Luigi - had been removed. 'Labubye, Marrickville! This sign is gone for good,' they shared in a post to Facebook. But, people aren't quite convinced it was enough, with the increase of tobacconists like this one becoming an epidemic in the area. 'You could stop letting them in, there are at least 5 in Leichardt,' said one commenter on the post. 'Compliance activity should focus on what they are selling too. Under the counter cigarettes and vapes laced with whatever chemicals. Removing that sign is a token gesture. Keep the pressure on,' another asserted. Originally published as 'This is beyond belief': Tobacconist slammed for sign marketed to kids
7NEWS
a day ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Sydney tobacco shop slammed after featuring Labubu holding vape
A tobacco shop has been slammed as a blatant attempt to target children after using global toy sensation Labubu on its shopfront signage. The newly opened 'Labubu Stop & Shop' on Marrickville Rd, in Sydney's inner west, featured signage showing two of the wildly popular Labubu plushies, with a hand holding a vape positioned in front of each of them. Another sign identified it as a tobacconist — and it's just metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese' s electoral office. Community outrage Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, who shared a photo of the shop online, called the display 'a disgrace' and 'blatant advertising to children'. 'This is beyond belief — a picture of the popular children's toy smoking is on the signage,' he said. The photo sparked outrage on social media, with many users saying the signage could mislead children. 'Do you know what the worst thing is? My kid walked past and called it 'the lolly shop',' one comment read. 'We definitely don't need another tobacco shop in Marrickville! Was very disappointed when it opened,' another said. Professor Becky Freeman from the University of Sydney's School of Public Health said she was 'absolutely appalled' by the signage. 'The blatant marketing to children paired with the open selling of illicit vapes and cigarettes is a public health crisis,' Freeman told Breaching the law The federal government banned the sale of recreational vapes from July 2024, along with the importation, manufacture, advertising, and possession of non-therapeutic vapes. Vapes are only permitted for sale in pharmacies for people using them to quit smoking. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) told that unlawful dealings with vaping goods carry heavy penalties. 'These penalties can include up to seven years in jail and fines reaching $2.31 million for individuals and $23.10 million for corporations, per contravention,' a spokesperson said. The TGA confirmed the Labubu shop in Marrickville was being investigated. 'NSW Health is looking into this specific matter,' a spokesperson said, citing the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008, which prohibits any image, sign or visual in a public place that promotes the purchase of a tobacco product. Earlier this month, another tobacconist in Melbourne's CBD was accused of luring children with 'candy' signage and a giant lollipop display. Victoria Police and the TGA seized about $40,000 in illicit vapes, along with tobacco products and cash. While the TGA did not comment directly on Labubu Stop & Shop, it confirmed it is 'progressing a number of investigations pertaining to unlawful supply of vaping goods'. The signage of 'Labubu Stop & Shop' was replaced with 'MRA Stop' on Wednesday, after council staff 'enforced their obligation', said Inner West Deputy Mayor Mat Howard. 'Signage that sells tobacco using imagery that appeals to children is wrong and has no place in our community,' Howard said. Push for stricter enforcement Freeman said the case highlights poor enforcement of vape sales laws in NSW and that cross-government action is needed. 'The NSW government needs to fast track laws that would allow the immediate shut down of shops selling illicit vapes and tobacco laws,' she said. 'The fines and other legal consequences, including criminal charges, for selling also need to be increased.' She added that a practical next step would be to significantly reduce the number of outlets permitted to sell tobacco products. 'Communities, especially parents, are tired of seeing yet another tobacco retailer open in their local shops,' she said. 'Parents can't be expected to manage this issue on their own, especially when predatory tobacconists are targeting kids.' Byrne echoed Freeman's concerns. 'The vape industry is using every trick in the book to target our kids. It's a disgrace,' Byrne told 'We're seeing shops selling vapes popping up in every neighbourhood and main street. We have to put a stop to them now before the next generation is hooked.' He said that currently, tobacconists can open by simply filling in a few forms. 'A new bottle-shop requires a full development application and social impact assessment — why doesn't a vape shop?' he asked. The TGA spokesperson said the agency regularly undertakes compliance and enforcement action. 'The TGA, as well as other Commonwealth, state and territory authorities, regularly take compliance and enforcement action against suspected unlawful advertising, importation, manufacture, supply and possession of vaping goods,' the spokesperson said.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Un-Australian' Labubu-themed vape shop opens across the road from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office in Sydney
Illegal vape stores are becoming increasingly 'un-Australian', according to some Sydney locals who are furious over one shop just metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's electorate office. The newly opened store, named 'Labubu Stop & Shop', is located merely steps down the road from Mr Albanese's office in the suburb of Marrickville. Concerning to locals is the depiction of the popular children's toy smoking a cigarette on the shop front, amid the federal government's vape reforms aimed at reducing the health risks of vaping among young people. Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne on Instagram said he sent council compliance staff to the shop on Thursday to 'act on' its opening. "This is beyond belief," Mr Byrne wrote alongside a photo of the shop. "This is exactly why we are fighting to have the Government introduce a requirement for a development application (DA) to be submitted and approved before these shops can open. "At the moment all they have to submit is a change of use application (a basic form)." It comes as the NSW government this month tabled illegal vaping reforms in parliament, which could see a penalty of more than $1.5 million and seven years imprisonment for the commercial possession of illicit tobacco. Mr Byrne said he welcomes the state's proposed legislation to crack down on black market vapes and stores, but he is still fighting for more council DA powers to "stop the spread of these shops" in Sydney. In NSW, councils have limited power to stop vape stores from opening, which is why Mr Byrne has, for more than a year, proposed the DA plan which would see assessment and potential refusal of further stores. The Labubu Stop & Shop debate turned to Reddit, where one person quipped it could have at least displayed some relevance to Australia. "How un-Australian," they wrote of the Labubu reference, adding: "They should have Bluey and Bingo smashing down a durrie." The plush doll originated from Hong Kong, China, before soaring in popularity worldwide, while Bluey is a popular Aussie kids' show. "Imagine not only vaping but choosing a shop with a cartoon Labubu puffing away on the sign," another person said. Others argued while the toy is predominantly for children, it is possessed mainly by adults; therefore, the store would not appeal to young people. "Labubu isn't really a 'children's toy'; most people with them are grown-ups," one person said. "Plus, there are smoke shops with Mario and Luigi smoking blunts, and no one complains." The Marrickville shop is one of many which has made little effort to disguise the sale of vapes even after vaping reforms passed in 2024. The reforms limited vape sales to pharmacies and mandated consultations with pharmacists, effectively leading to black market boom. However, recent statistics show young people are smoking and vaping more than they were before the reforms came into effect. The data revealed more than one in 10 adults aged 18-24 are smoking cigarettes, marking a 36 per cent increase in less than a year. Sky has contacted Darcy Byrne and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's offices for comment.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tougher laws on vaping, illegal tobacco may struggle to hold back the tide
Only eight days ago, the Minns government announced to great fanfare that illegal tobacco sellers would face prison terms of up to seven years and forced shop closures under new laws to be introduced. The changes, which Health Minister Ryan Park described as the toughest in the country, included new maximum penalties of $1.5 million and seven years' imprisonment for the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes. They would introduce similar penalties for possession of commercial quantities of the substances. The new laws were first flagged by Premier Chris Minns the week before. Today comes the news that the suburb of Dulwich Hill has four tobacconists that each sell illegal vapes. In neighbouring Marrickville, a new store is using Labubu toys to promote illegal vapes just metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's electoral office in another sign of how brazen Sydney's black market tobacco has become. From July 1 last year, all nicotine vapes have been classified as therapeutic goods, meaning they can be legally purchased only at pharmacies. Despite the promise of these tough new laws, the Herald visited the four tobacconists in Dulwich Hill – three on Marrickville Road and a fourth on New Canterbury Road – and asked for an Alibarbar vape from each. Some produced laminated menus showing the various flavours of Chinese-made vapes. Most offered a discount for paying cash, and the price averaged about $35 for a gold 'ingot' vape boasting 9000 puffs. In Marrickville, there are at least 10 tobacconists. The Herald visited the newest store, Labubu Stop & Shop, which has opened across the street from Albanese's electorate office.
The Age
4 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Tougher laws on vaping, illegal tobacco may struggle to hold back the tide
Only eight days ago, the Minns government announced to great fanfare that illegal tobacco sellers would face prison terms of up to seven years and forced shop closures under new laws to be introduced. The changes, which Health Minister Ryan Park described as the toughest in the country, included new maximum penalties of $1.5 million and seven years' imprisonment for the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes. They would introduce similar penalties for possession of commercial quantities of the substances. The new laws were first flagged by Premier Chris Minns the week before. Today comes the news that the suburb of Dulwich Hill has four tobacconists that each sell illegal vapes. In neighbouring Marrickville, a new store is using Labubu toys to promote illegal vapes just metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's electoral office in another sign of how brazen Sydney's black market tobacco has become. From July 1 last year, all nicotine vapes have been classified as therapeutic goods, meaning they can be legally purchased only at pharmacies. Despite the promise of these tough new laws, the Herald visited the four tobacconists in Dulwich Hill – three on Marrickville Road and a fourth on New Canterbury Road – and asked for an Alibarbar vape from each. Some produced laminated menus showing the various flavours of Chinese-made vapes. Most offered a discount for paying cash, and the price averaged about $35 for a gold 'ingot' vape boasting 9000 puffs. In Marrickville, there are at least 10 tobacconists. The Herald visited the newest store, Labubu Stop & Shop, which has opened across the street from Albanese's electorate office.
