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 7NEWS.com.au.

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 7NEWS.com.au 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 7NEWS.com.au.

“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.

Non-compliance reports can be submitted via the TGA’s web portal: compliance.health.gov.au/ac-report/