The Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy believe that while vaping regulations are in no way perfect, they serve as a model for other countries keen on combating tobacco. The Act that came into place on November 11, 2020, aimed to strike a balance between ensuring vaping products are available for smokers who want to switch to a less harmful alternative and that they are not sold to young people.
“If youth vaping is a problem, the solution is not changing the law, as it’s already more than adequate. Solutions lie with parental responsibility and greater enforcement by the regulator. Heavy sanctions can be applied to those caught selling to minors. Any rogue retailers now need to face the consequences, as they’re making good legislation look bad,” said Nancy Loucas, co-founder of Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy.
“New Zealand is playing it straight with the public, and subsequently, it is on track to achieve Smokefree 2025 – where five percent or fewer smoke. In contrast, Australia’s retail ban of safer nicotine products and its publicly funded scaremongering has ensured its smoking rate has barely budged in recent years.”
“Governments, politicians, and officials from all around the world continue to study what New Zealand has done to halve its smoking rate and put smokefree in its sights. Staying the course with its THR approach is how New Zealand will crush tobacco and save thousands of lives every year.”
