Overnight With Michael Mclaren

Phil speaks with Dr Joe Kosterich, a GP who says Australia’s crackdown on vaping has backfired badly. He compares it to alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, claiming the only winners are criminals. While smoking kills around 20,000 Australians a year, nicotine itself isn’t the main danger—it’s the chemicals from burning tobacco. But instead of focusing on harm reduction, he says politicians have waged war on nicotine, fuelling a black market for cigarettes and vapes and over 100 firebomb attacks. His solution? Follow New Zealand’s lead—make vaping as accessible as cigarettes to reduce both smoking rates and crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.