The Australian state of Victoria on Thursday introduced laws to give authorities more powers to shut down businesses selling illegal tobacco, as new data showed nicotine use has surged across the country.

Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates nicotine consumption rose 40%, with illicit sources accounting for 80% of all tobacco

The experimental estimates are based on "nicotine metabolite concentrations" detected in wastewater samples, combined with data showing a collapse in spending on legal cigarettes…