Tobacco

NT Health supports population-level tobacco control strategies including:

• education, compliance, and enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act 2002
• social marketing activities and public health warning campaigns
• remote and Aboriginal community education, prevention, engagement, and cessation support programs
• Quitline telephone counselling service and quit group counselling services.

Tobacco Control Act 2002

The Act aims to minimise the harms from smoking through:

• restricting smoking in certain public places and workplaces
• regulating the packaging, advertising, and sponsorship of tobacco products
• removing tobacco products from display
• regulating the conduct of premises at which tobacco products are sold
• prohibiting the sale and supply of tobacco products to children.

The Act was amended in 2019 to include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and their accessories as regulated products. Like traditional tobacco products, the sale of e-cigarettes requires a tobacco retail licence and the same restrictions that apply to the sale and consumption of tobacco applies to e-cigarettes.

View the Act and Regulations:

• Tobacco Control Act 2002
• Tobacco Control Regulations 2002

For matters related to signage, licensing and enforcement please contact the Tobacco Licensing Unit in the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations by:

• Phone: 1800 193 111
• Email: territorybusinesscentre@nt.gov.au or tobacco.control@nt.gov.au.

Department of Health smoke free policy

The smoke free policy is about providing a safe work environment for staff, protecting patients and visitors from environmental tobacco smoke, and providing help for staff and patients to quit smoking.

Download the Department of Health smoke free policy PDF (222.2 KB).

Northern Territory tobacco and related products action framework: A Smoke Free Future 2025–2030

The tobacco action framework for the Northern Territory is a commitment to significantly improve the health and wellbeing of Territorians by reducing the prevalence of smoking and the harm it causes. For ease of use, the term smoking covers tobacco, vapes and other nicotine products in the framework.

Six key focus areas define the scope of document:

1. prevent uptake of smoking among Territorians
2. support Territorians to quit for good
3. prioritise high-risk and high-need groups
4. create more smoke-free environments
5. increase strategic marketing and messaging
6. utilise an evidence-informed process and strengthen the evidence base.

The priority high risk and high needs groups are:

• youth (12 to 24 years)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Territorians
• pregnant women and families
• people with mental illness
• persons who are incarcerated.

Read the latest Smoke Free Future 2025 to 2030 Framework PDF (6.4 MB).

The previous 2019-23 action plan remains available for reference.

For more information, call the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs branch on 08 8999 2691, or email mhaod.doh@nt.gov.au.