The New Zealand government has declared its decision to rescind a breakthrough law that would have barred tobacco sales for future generations, effective July. The harshest anti-tobacco rules in the world, set to go into effect in July, would have outlawed sales to anybody born after January 1, 2009, reduced nicotine content in smoked tobacco products, and reduced the number of tobacco outlets by more than 90%. The newly formed coalition administration confirmed the repeal on Tuesday (Feb 27), citing urgency as the reason for bypassing public discussion and sticking to previously announced plans.
This is a major loss for public health and a huge win for the tobacco industry
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating smoking but also proposed a new regulatory approach to discourage the habit and reduce its impact. Costello cited upcoming cabinet initiatives targeted at offering extra tools to help smokers quit, as well as stricter vaping regulations to dissuade young people. Despite criticism of potential health repercussions in New Zealand, the decision has raised worries about its disproportionate impact on the Maori and Pasifika groups, which have greater smoking rates. “This is a 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 Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) in New Zealand.
HCA cited scholarly studies that indicated the regulations might have decreased death rates and saved the health system almost $1.3 billion in costs over 20 years. However, plans in other countries may be threatened by the decision, according to Sarah Jackson, Principal Research Fellow in the University College London Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group. “There is a risk that New Zealand’s U-turn could prompt policymakers in England to reconsider,” she said. According to the documents, the coalition government will only tax smoked items and overhaul legislation for alternatives such as vapes, including a ban on disposable vapes and harsher penalties for those who sell to minors. According to Deborah Arnott, CEO of the UK health charity ASH, smoking costs the public roughly twice as much as tobacco tax receipts.