Call for NZ Stores To Remain Open
Kiwi advocacy group calls for vape stores to be allowed to remain open as the government looks to expand the COVID-19 related restrictions
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by Dave Cross
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“There’s a real risk of New Zealand’s smoking rates creeping back up if the accessibility of vaping remains reduced while tobacco products continue to be available as per usual,” says Director of AVCA, Nancy Loucas.
AVCA was formed in 2016 by vapers across New Zealand wanting their voices heard in local and central government. All members are former smokers who promote vaping to help smokers quit - a much less harmful alternative to combustible tobacco products. AVCA does not have any affiliation or vested interest in industry - tobacco, pharmaceutical and/or the local vaping manufacturing or retail sectors.
Given the extra stress and isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, she says vapers are at risk of returning to smoking especially if they can’t readily access their preferred retailers, flavours and products.
“Vape stores play a really important role in keep vapers off tobacco and a chance for smokers to talk through their options. Not every vape store will want to open, but those that do and can demonstrate safe operating procedures for staff and customers should be allowed to under Alert Level 3,” she says.
Ms Loucas says there are plenty of examples overseas where governments have deemed vape stores essential businesses - fearing that smoking rates would increase, adding more pressure on individuals’ health and national healthcare systems.
The World Health Organisation, among others, has advised that smoking has a hugely detrimental impact when coupled with Covid-19.
“As a country we’ve worked so hard to drive down New Zealand’s overall smoking rate to 12.5%, with vaping a huge part of that. As the Prime Minister would say let’s not lose our halftime advantage. Let’s do all we can to limit vapers returning to something that’s 95% more harmful and kills 5,000 Kiwis a year,” she says.
Nancy Loucas says a move by the Government to support ex-smokers and specialist vape stores says would be a positive nod to the country’s SmokeFree 2025 ambition.
Related:
- Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy – [link]
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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