New Zealand overturns world’s first tobacco ban law on grounds of urgency
New Zealand, which was the first country to legally ban tobacco for future generations, repealed the law on Tuesday. Earlier, it was decided that from July 2024, the sale of tobacco would be banned for people born after January 2009. Additionally, there were plans to reduce nicotine levels in smoked tobacco products and reduce the number of tobacco vendors by more than 90 percent. ,
The new coalition government confirmed the repeal and announced it would take place immediately on Tuesday. This allowed the legislation to be scrapped without seeking public comment as per previously announced plans. This is despite researchers and campaigners warning of the risk that people could die as a result of a sudden reversal.
According to Reuters, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said the government is committed to reducing smoking, but will take a different regulatory approach to discouraging the habit and reducing the harm it causes.
“I will soon be taking a package of measures to Cabinet to increase the tools available to help people quit smoking,” Costello said. He said regulations on vaping would also be tightened to deter young people.
The decision has been widely criticized for its potential negative impact on health outcomes in New Zealand. It has also raised concerns over its disproportionate effects on Māori and Pasifika populations, who have higher rates of smoking.
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The law passed last year received international praise, with research models supporting key reforms. According to the BBC, modeling had indicated that smoke-free laws could potentially save 5,000 lives each year. Furthermore, in 2022, public health modeling indicated that the implementation of a smoke-free policy would potentially save New Zealand’s health system approximately US$1.3 billion (£630 million) over the next 20 years.
According to national figures, 80,000 adults left their jobs last year. Currently, about 8% of New Zealand’s adult population smokes, the BBC said.
Researchers react to the repeal
Janet Hoke, a researcher at the University of Otago, said the repeal contradicts strong research evidence, disregards measures strongly supported by Māori leaders and will perpetuate health inequalities. “Large-scale clinical trials and modeling studies show that the law accelerated quit rates among smokers,” said Hoke, co-director of a group studying ways to reduce smoking. and making it much more difficult for young people to smoke.” ,
Health experts strongly criticized this sudden reversal. The BBC quoted Professor Richard Edwards, a tobacco control researcher and public health expert at the University of Otago, as saying, “We are shocked and disappointed… This is an incredibly retrograde step back on world-leading, absolutely excellent health measures.”
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