Quote:
Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says there will be a strong focus on enforcement for the new legislation, expected to come into force by 2023.
"The best way to wean people off tobacco is to allow the market to innovate and deliver products like vaping.
"By radically reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes, smokers who can least afford it will spend more on their habit and in turn do harm to those around them if the Government mandates lower nicotine in tobacco."
Verrall said vaping was part of the plan as it was "far less harmful" than tobacco.
Asked why a ban on vaping was not also introduced at the same time and if the laws would condemn a generation to vaping, Verrall said they were monitoring the impact of recent law changes closely.
"The key thing is tobacco is one of the most addictive and deadly substances there is. Vaping is far less harmful."
The ministry advice also notes the legislation will have a great impact on small businesses, including dairies that sell tobacco which is estimated to make up about 20 per cent of revenue.
The current smoking rate of New Zealand adults was 13.4 per cent in 2019/2020, which has decreased from 16.6 per cent in 2014/15 15 and from 18.2 per cent in 2011/12.
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/smokin...U76YGMDOIYODM/
The number of people that smoke seems high. Was actually surprised.
Also surprising that dairies are making so much money from selling tobacco. Will be unintended consequences there as well.
As for vaping...
Quote:
Is vaping bad for you? There are many unknowns about vaping, including what chemicals make up the vapor and how they affect physical health over the long term. “People need to understand that e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous to your health,” says Blaha. “Emerging data suggests links to chronic lung disease and asthma, and associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease. You’re exposing yourself to all kinds of chemicals that we don’t yet understand and that are probably not safe.”
Among youth, e-cigarettes are more popular than any traditional tobacco product. In 2015, the U.S. surgeon general reported that e-cigarette use among high school students had increased by 900%, and 40% of young e-cigarette users had never smoked regular tobacco.
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https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heal...w-about-vaping