New South Wales will ban the sale of nitrous oxide products, commonly known as nangs, to under-18s from November as part of a wider crackdown on recreational misuse, with retailers facing fines of up to $11,000 per offence for breaching the new rules.
The reforms target the growing availability of nitrous oxide in shops and through fast delivery services, while still allowing legitimate uses in food, medical and industrial settings. Nitrous oxide is an odourless gas commonly used in whipped cream chargers and healthcare, but authorities say its misuse as an inhaled drug has become a serious public health concern.
From November, customers in NSW will be limited to buying a total of 250 grams per day of nitrous oxide bulbs. Individual bulbs generally weigh about 8g to 10g. Retail sales of larger canisters and cylinders containing more than 10g will be banned.
Sales to under-18s will be banned, daily purchases will be capped at 250g, retail sale of canisters over 10g will be prohibited, same-day delivery will be banned, sales will be blocked between 10pm and 5am, and products must not be visibly displayed to customers.
Why NSW is cracking down on nangs
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the use of nangs was “escalating in our community” and having a serious impact on young people. He said the government’s response was focused on restricting retail supply, limiting access by age, and reducing when and how the products can be sold.
The rules do not amount to a full ban on nitrous oxide. The government has said there are still legitimate uses for the gas in food preparation, medicine and industry, and the changes are designed to target recreational misuse rather than lawful professional use.
Retailers who break the rules could face fines of up to $2,200 for individuals and up to $11,000 for corporations for each offence. The NSW Government’s consultation on nitrous oxide reforms says the aim is to reduce harm, support responsible retail practices and improve public safety through tighter controls on non-therapeutic use.
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Health risks linked to nitrous oxide misuse
Although nitrous oxide has accepted commercial and medical uses, inhaling it recreationally can cause serious harm. Health warnings linked to nang misuse include neurological injury, spinal cord damage, frostbite, lung injuries, cardiac abnormalities, oxygen deprivation and asphyxiation.
The risk can increase when people use large quantities or inhale repeatedly over a short period. Users often discharge the gas into a balloon before inhaling it, a practice health experts warn can expose people to sudden oxygen loss and other acute dangers.
Anti-drug advocate Sam Bramman, who has spoken publicly about being hospitalised after using nangs, said the product was cheap and easy to access. He previously described using up to 50 steel bulbs a day as his addiction escalated. He welcomed the NSW restrictions, saying that if the laws help even one young person avoid similar harm, they will be worth it.
What it means for retailers and buyers
For retailers, the new laws will require major changes to how nitrous oxide products are stocked, displayed, sold and delivered. Products will need to be kept out of visible display, age checks will become essential, and late-night or same-day delivery models will no longer be allowed for affected sales.
For consumers, small culinary chargers will still be available within the new limits, but bulk-style access through larger retail canisters will be restricted. The government’s position is that ordinary food, medical and industrial use should continue, while easy access for recreational misuse becomes harder.
The changes also reflect a wider concern across Australia about inhalant misuse and its impact on young people. NSW is now moving to close retail loopholes that made nangs easy to buy in large volumes, especially through late-night and rapid delivery services.
Similar compliance campaigns in the state have shown how everyday rules can quickly become expensive for people and businesses that ignore them, including recent warnings around driving fines in New South Wales.
More information on the consultation behind the reforms is available through the NSW Government nitrous oxide reforms page.
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