The Smoke-free Environment and Regulated Products (Restrictions on Tobacco) Amendment Bill limits the number of retailers who are allowed to sell tobacco products, and prohibits the sale of these products to anyone born after 2009. The aim of the legislation is to reduce the appeal and addictive nature of tobacco products.
Nancy Loucas, co-founder of Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA), recently expressed concern about the lack of enforcement in general convenience stores regarding the sale of electronic cigarettes, despite agreeing with the overall goal of the proposed bill. Some convenience store owners may prioritize sales to minors for profit over public interest. Loucas emphasized that new regulations are futile without consistent and effective enforcement. Some store owners may refuse to sell to minors, but others may not.
She added that the industry supports regulations to ensure minors cannot obtain the product and urges all electronic cigarette users and advocates for tobacco harm reduction to share their opinions and submit comments before the deadline of August 24th.
The submission period has now ended, and she hopes that local politicians will carefully review the submissions and take appropriate action. "We are heavily dependent on Members of Parliament reading and taking action on the valuable insights submitted to the Health Select Committee, which provide expert and practical solutions to help New Zealand achieve a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025," said Nancy Lucas.
The current direction of ASH is self-defeating, flawed, and harmful.
The documents submitted by Action for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 (ASH) state that current restrictions on general retailers only selling tobacco, menthol and menthol flavoured closed e-cigarette systems are counterproductive, flawed, and harmful. "There is ample evidence to suggest that using fruit and other sweet flavoured e-liquids is positively associated with quitting smoking... International evidence from four countries concludes that users of sweet flavoured e-cigarettes are more likely to remain smoke-free by 1.6 times, while users of menthol-flavoured e-cigarettes are less likely to remain smoke-free," wrote ASH.
Dr. Marewa Glover, a tobacco control expert, has submitted materials stating that members of parliament should "reduce barriers to using e-cigarettes." "I am against the proposed new prohibition measures in the bill. There are more compassionate and cost-effective ways to reduce smoking rates. One of which is to encourage the use of lower risk alternatives... It has been found that using e-cigarettes is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy in helping people quit smoking," she said.
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