Tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food are responsible for almost a third of Aotearoa, New Zealand's preventable health burden. Yet, a new survey shows political parties are widely split on whether they would support evidence-informed policies that limit the harm of these products.
The parties currently in parliament were asked about their level of support for 12 priority policies that Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) expert panels identified will make a difference in health outcomes. These policies are outlined in HCA's Prevention Brief. The responses are assessed in the latest Briefing published by the Public Health Communication Centre - Junk food, alcohol and tobacco - where the parties stand: Election 2023.
The answers have been rated from very supportive to not supportive, with the responses falling mainly in line with the right/left political spectrum.
HCA co-chairperson Professor Boyd Swinburn said governments had dragged their feet on alcohol policy for many years apart from the recent amendment to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, which gave communities a more significant input on alcohol access through Local Alcohol Policies.
"Te Pāti Māori and the Green party support the HCA priority policies and want even stronger policies and harm reduction programmes for alcohol. Labour sat neutrally on two of the three policies proposed. ACT strongly opposed all proposed measures, whereas National failed to respond to this question," said Swinburn.
On tobacco and vaping, Swinburn stated that this Labour Government had passed world-leading legislation to reduce the prevalence and inequities in smoking and catch-up legislation to try and halt the explosion of vaping. And it is the tobacco and vaping policies received the broadest support across political parties in the survey.
"ACT was the only party to oppose both action areas, including amending the law to protect our rangatahi from vaping-related harm better, while National supported even stronger policies on vaping outlets."
Policies such as protecting children from exposure to unhealthy food marketing received support from the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, with Labour sitting again in a neutral position. However, these policies were firmly opposed by both the National and ACT. Professor Swinburn said ultra-processed foods drive the obesity epidemic and many other diet-related diseases. Yet, substantive policies to address this massive contribution to ill health and health inequities among children and adults have not been implemented over the last 15 years.
Professor Swinburn continued that it was time for political parties to put aside their ideology and follow the evidence which shows prevention policies for health, such as limiting advertising of harmful products, can save lives and health dollars.
"The outlook for effective prevention policies looks bleak under a National and ACT government, especially if ACT holds considerable sway. However, there are examples of right-wing governments internationally implementing progressive prevention policies, so we will still call for evidence-based public health action on harmful products no matter which parties form the next government."
