The next generation won’t suffer the harms of
tobacco-use, health experts say following the passing of a
new smokefree law.
Decades of hard-fought advocacy
from health and community organisations has led to today’s
milestone – the Smokefree Environments and Regulated
Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill passing its third
and final reading.
The government has responded to the
resolute calls from more than 110 health, community, and
research organisations, and 650 individuals, who signed
Health Coalition Aotearoa’s letter of support for the
government’s proposed Smokefree Action Plan.
The new
law will create a tobacco-free generation, by making it
illegal to sell tobacco to those born from 2009 and
restricts the number of retailers.
HCA Smokefree
expert panel member and regional manager of Takiri Mai te
Ata Regional Stop Smoking Service Catherine Manning says the
next generation will not suffer the same consequences from
tobacco.
“Twelve people a day die because of tobacco,
and it is our whānau, hapū and iwi who’ve
disproportionately shouldered the burden of this destructive
substance.
“With these reforms, we can now finally
protect our mokopuna,” she says.
While the political
battle has been won, Manning says the next step is engaging
with communities, particularly Māori and Pasifika, to
support them through the transition.
“Communities need
adequate resourcing for quit services as we transition to a
Smokefree Aotearoa, so people aren’t left behind,” she
says.
A bold measure to remove almost all nicotine
from cigarettes, making them less addictive will also come
into effect.
A national survey from 2019 found that
80% of smokers and recent ex-smokers supported reducing the
level of nicotine in cigarettes and tobacco.
“Smokers
want to quit, they’ve heard the evidence, they know that
continuing to smoke will likely kill them, and very low
nicotine cigarettes will mean smokers are less addicted and
causing less irreparable damage to their bodies,” ASPIRE
2025 co-director and HCA Smokefree Panel Member Andrew Waa
says.
Smokefree Expert Panel chair Sally Liggins says
it is a huge win.
“I am heartened by the groundswell
of support that has been shown across all sectors for these
new measures which will stamp out tobacco-harm in
Aotearoa.”
A huge thanks to Māori leaders Dame
Tariana Turia, Hone Harawira and Shane Bradbrook as well as
our communities whose tireless advocacy led to the inception
of the Smokefree Free Aotearoa goal, and who campaigned for
critical health measures such as excise tax on cigarettes
and plain packaging.
A huge thanks also to all those
who signed the HCA open
letter.
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