Pragmatic Regulation is Called For

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates has already expressed its significant concerns regarding the recently proposed Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill 2024. The bill, aimed at addressing youth vaping, introduces stringent measures that the harm reduction organisation believes will inadvertently harm adult vapers and smokers seeking to quit smoking. 

“The government’s duty of care is to everyone living in Aotearoa, regardless of age,” The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates said.

Speaking on the impact on adult vapers and people who smoke, Nancy Loucas, the Executive Coordinator and spokesperson for The Coalition, highlighted that the proposed ban on prefilled tanks, pods, and cartridges will create substantial barriers for adults who smoke and older vapers. 

“Many individuals rely on simpler, closed system products due to difficulties with dexterity and the complexities of refillable devices,” she said. “This ban could force them back to smoking cigarettes, which is counterproductive to the Smokefree 2025 goal.”

Then, clarifying the definitions and addressing youth access, The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates emphasised the importance of getting definitions right, particularly distinguishing between disposable vapes and closed system vapes. Disposable vapes are single-use devices, while closed systems can be reused with replaceable components, the organisation said. 

Loucas also addressed the overstated concerns about youth vaping, noting that youth vaping peaked in 2019 and has been declining since 2022 and that the age of consent for adult products is 18yrs in Aotearoa. 

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates advocates for effective regulation rather than outright bans. 

"Bans and prohibitions are not only the 'easy way out' but have proven to be major public health failures," Loucas stated.

She cited examples from San Francisco and Australia, where bans led to increased youth vaping and smoking rates and the rise of black markets and crime. 

Moving to concerns about environmental considerations and public health education, the consumer organisation said that the environmental impact of vape waste is a valid concern, but it noted that recycling initiatives are already being implemented in some localities. 

The organisation called for the reactivation of the Technical Expert Advisory Committee to create a Public Health Education Programme, ensuring that the government and the public are informed about vaping based on facts and evidence. 

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates urged the New Zealand government to consider pragmatic regulation that addresses and enforces legislation while educating the public. 

“Governments should, in developing and implementing pragmatic regulations, eliminate the need for further restrictions on adults' ability to make choices that help them switch from harmful products," Loucas concluded. 

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave 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.