Ban Is A Blow To Public Health

This misguided policy threatens to push former smokers back to deadly cigarettes and create unnecessary barriers for those seeking to quit, states the consumer organisation.

Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, warned: “This amendment will make it more difficult for adults who smoke to access vaping products, potentially pushing them back to smoking. It's a step backwards in our journey towards a smoke-free New Zealand. 

“The submission highlights several critical concerns: 

1. The ban disproportionately affects older adults and those with dexterity issues who rely on simpler closed systems. 
2. Display restrictions may deter people who smoke from switching to less harmful alternatives. 
3. The focus on further display restrictions in retail shops ignores the real issue of social supply to youth. 
4. Flavour restrictions could hinder successful smoking cessation efforts.”

Loucas emphasised the importance of consumer choice: “Consumers have the right to make informed choices about their health. This amendment proposes to restrict consumer autonomy and may hinder harm reduction efforts.  

“Even the Ministry of Health suggested that the regulations, as they are, are fit for purpose and the ASH Year 10 survey has shown that youth vaping has declined from the peak a couple of years ago.

“What is needed is evidence-based policy, not policy-based evidence that is influenced from overseas interests. New Zealand ministers should not cede their sovereignty to billionaire philanthropic colonialists who are pushing an agenda that does not serve Aotearoa New Zealand.

“CAPHRA calls for a more balanced approach, focusing on education and transparent risk communication. By highlighting the facts about vaping, who it is for, and what it is, we can combat misinformation and support public health.”

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates is urging the New Zealand government to reconsider the harmful amendment and instead prioritise enforcement, education and evidence-based policies that support harm reduction and public health goals.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Advocates is a regional alliance of consumer tobacco harm reduction advocacy organisations. Its mission is to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use. 

The advocacy group says it remains committed to advocating for the rights of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region to access and use evidence-based, regulated, and properly marketed harm reduction products as a means of reducing the devastating impact of smoking-related diseases: “We encourage further research, open dialogue, and collaboration with governments, health organisations, and stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcomes for public health.”

References:

• The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates - https://caphraorg.net/   

Photo Credit:

• Photo by Saymom Leão on Unsplash, cropped, resized, and rotated

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.