The tobacco ban introduced by NZ’s former government has been scrapped, a decision which has been decried by public health officials. Image: Vladyslav Dukhin, via Pexels
The tobacco ban introduced by New Zealand’s former government has been scrapped by the coalition, a decision which has been decried by public health officials.
The legislation, which was approved last year by the previous government, would ban the sale of tobacco and tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
It also included other restrictions, including to reduce the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products, and to restrict their sale to specialist tobacco stores.
Christopher Luxon, who was sworn in as New Zealand’s Prime Minister this past Monday, said that his top priority was to improve the economy.
The new legislation was due to be implemented from July 2024, however, New Zealand’s new finance minister Nicola Willis announced that the measures would be scrapped in order to fund planned tax cuts.
“We have to remember that the changes to the smoke-free legislation had a significant impact on the government books — with about $1 billion there,” said Willis.
Luxon also argued that reducing the number of tobacco retailers would make specialty shops a target for crime.
“Concentrating the distribution of cigarettes in one store in one small town is going to be a massive magnet for crime,” said Luxon to Radio New Zealand.
“We will continue to make sure we have good education programs and encourage people to take up vapes as a cessation tool,” he said.
However, many health experts expressed their disappointment in the government’s decision, including Professor Lisa Te Morenga, chair of the Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA).
“This is major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry – whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives,” said Te Morenga.
The HCA cited academic research which predicted the proposed laws would save $1.3bn in costs to the health system over the next 20 years, and reduce mortality rates by 22% for women, and 9% for men.
“Turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individuals, or even communities,” Te Morenga said.
“It takes good – and brave – population-level policies.”
The now-scrapped legislation is thought to have inspired similar policies planned for the UK, which has left many wondering if the repeal will also impact the introduction of similar laws abroad.
