New Zealand: The new government of New Zealand is going to lift the ban on the sale of tobacco. Despite warnings from researchers and campaigners about the deaths caused by tobacco, the government on Tuesday announced the lifting of the ban on it. This will come into effect from July this year. Additionally, the nicotine content in smoked tobacco products will be reduced and the number of tobacco retailers will be reduced by more than 90%.
The new coalition government elected in October confirmed immediate action would be taken on Tuesday. Meanwhile Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said the Coalition Government is committed to reducing smoking, but is taking a different regulatory approach to discouraging the habit and reducing the harm it causes.
‘I will soon be bringing a package of measures to Cabinet to increase the tools available to help people quit smoking,’ Costello said. He said rules regarding young people vaping will also be tightened.
The decision has been heavily criticized in New Zealand over its potential impact on health outcomes. It may also have a greater impact on Māori and Pasifika populations, as these are groups with higher smoking rates. Hoke, co-director of a group studying ways to reduce smoking, said: ‘Large-scale trials show that this will rapidly increase quitting rates among smokers and for young people. It will become difficult to smoke.’
