Thought you’d seen it all with vape shops? Wait until you hear what’s outside Albo’s office
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Illegal vape shops have long been a point of contention, but one new store in Sydney has pushed the outrage to another level.
Just metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office, a brightly coloured shopfront has appeared—complete with a cartoon character puffing on a cigarette.
Locals say it is the final straw in a growing battle against black market vaping.
The store, called ‘Labubu Stop & Shop’, opened its doors in Marrickville only steps away from Mr Albanese’s office.
The shopfront features a depiction of the plush toy Labubu smoking, sparking anger in the community as the federal government continues to push reforms to reduce vaping-related health risks among young Australians.
Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne announced on social media that he had dispatched compliance staff to investigate the store.
‘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).’
Mr Byrne welcomed the NSW government’s new plan to crack down on illicit vape and tobacco stores but argued councils still lacked the tools to stop the spread of such shops.
The legislation, tabled in parliament this month, could see offenders face more than $1.5 million in fines and up to seven years in prison for the commercial possession of illicit tobacco.
Despite this, Mr Byrne has campaigned for more than a year to introduce a DA system that would allow councils to block new vape store openings altogether.
The debate spilled online, where some mocked the Marrickville store’s choice of branding.
‘How un-Australian,’ one person wrote, joking that the sign should instead feature #Bluey characters ‘smashing down a durrie.’
Others argued Labubu was not really a child’s toy, claiming most collectors were adults, and compared it to smoke shops overseas that featured Mario and Luigi smoking without attracting similar outrage.
The Labubu doll originated in Hong Kong before gaining popularity worldwide, while #Bluey remains one of Australia’s most beloved children’s shows.
The shop was one of many across Sydney that continued to operate despite last year’s federal vaping reforms, which restricted sales to pharmacies and required a pharmacist consultation.
The tighter controls, however, have fuelled a surge in black market trade, with many shops openly advertising vape products despite the restrictions.
Recent statistics revealed the reforms had not slowed youth uptake, with more than one in ten adults aged 18 to 24 smoking cigarettes—a 36 per cent increase in less than a year.
Reports confirmed it had reached out to both Mr Byrne and the Prime Minister’s offices for comment.
Concerns about vape shops and smoking laws don’t end at shopfronts—there are also strict rules about where people can and can’t light up.
Even a small mistake in the wrong place can lead to frustration for others and fines for those caught breaking the law.
Here’s one story that shows just how heated things can get when smoke drifts into public spaces.
Read more: Are You Making This Shocking Public Space Mistake That Left One Member Furious?
Is the rise of black market vape shops proof that government reforms have only made the problem worse?
Just metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office, a brightly coloured shopfront has appeared—complete with a cartoon character puffing on a cigarette.
Locals say it is the final straw in a growing battle against black market vaping.
The store, called ‘Labubu Stop & Shop’, opened its doors in Marrickville only steps away from Mr Albanese’s office.
The shopfront features a depiction of the plush toy Labubu smoking, sparking anger in the community as the federal government continues to push reforms to reduce vaping-related health risks among young Australians.
Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne announced on social media that he had dispatched compliance staff to investigate the store.
Labubu vape shop opens near PM’s office. Image source: Instagram/darcy_byrne
‘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).’
Mr Byrne welcomed the NSW government’s new plan to crack down on illicit vape and tobacco stores but argued councils still lacked the tools to stop the spread of such shops.
The legislation, tabled in parliament this month, could see offenders face more than $1.5 million in fines and up to seven years in prison for the commercial possession of illicit tobacco.
Despite this, Mr Byrne has campaigned for more than a year to introduce a DA system that would allow councils to block new vape store openings altogether.
The debate spilled online, where some mocked the Marrickville store’s choice of branding.
‘How un-Australian,’ one person wrote, joking that the sign should instead feature #Bluey characters ‘smashing down a durrie.’
Others argued Labubu was not really a child’s toy, claiming most collectors were adults, and compared it to smoke shops overseas that featured Mario and Luigi smoking without attracting similar outrage.
The Labubu doll originated in Hong Kong before gaining popularity worldwide, while #Bluey remains one of Australia’s most beloved children’s shows.
The shop was one of many across Sydney that continued to operate despite last year’s federal vaping reforms, which restricted sales to pharmacies and required a pharmacist consultation.
The tighter controls, however, have fuelled a surge in black market trade, with many shops openly advertising vape products despite the restrictions.
Recent statistics revealed the reforms had not slowed youth uptake, with more than one in ten adults aged 18 to 24 smoking cigarettes—a 36 per cent increase in less than a year.
Reports confirmed it had reached out to both Mr Byrne and the Prime Minister’s offices for comment.
Concerns about vape shops and smoking laws don’t end at shopfronts—there are also strict rules about where people can and can’t light up.
Even a small mistake in the wrong place can lead to frustration for others and fines for those caught breaking the law.
Here’s one story that shows just how heated things can get when smoke drifts into public spaces.
Read more: Are You Making This Shocking Public Space Mistake That Left One Member Furious?
Is the rise of black market vape shops proof that government reforms have only made the problem worse?
