The new coalition in New Zealand has revoked Jacinda Ardern’s controversial anti-smoking laws that would have prevented anyone born later than 2008 from ever being able to buy any nicotine products.
The retreat was led by the country’s finance minister, who wants to use the extra revenue to fund tax cuts in other areas, as the government looks to profit NZ$1 billion a year by reversing the policy (no word on the money lost on medical care). This is one of the first major moves from the new coalition, who seem to be looking to assure voters that New Zealand has swung back to the right, perhaps in an attempt to dispute consistent ‘nanny state’ accusations.
Interestingly, a similar policy in the UK is being planned, as the Tory party push for a smoking ban – revealed by Sunak in the Manchester conference. If the policy in Britain is voted through (which it looks likely to, given that Labour have said they will support the move) then after New Zealand’s latest decision, Britain will have the harshest smoking laws in the word, aside from Bhutan. Thus far, however, nothing has been able to reverse Sunak’s decision.
On the surface, I think I support the policy, as it appears more in keeping with our other laws. I often question how cannabis, with its known medicinal and therapeutic effects can be illegal whilst nicotine, one of the most addictive drugs available, is virtually unregulated. I think the arguments to outlaw one must be applied to the other.
But I can also accept the overall strangeness of this law. Sunak’s policy has been purposefully vague – no one knows what this ban will look like, and I’m sure choosing a ban which only targets people who can’t currently vote was no mistake.
New Zealand changing their mind creates further issue as now there is no guinea pig, Britain must pioneer this radical policy. What will be the punishment to selling to a minor? Will possession be legal but intent to sell illegal (as is with Britain’s alcohol laws)? Will the policy work? Is the idea of I.Ding 50-year-olds as funny to everyone else as it is to me?
Many worry that this new law will push smokers into the hands of the black market or drug dealers. But hopefully this law will mirror the current trend of decline in smoking anyway: maybe there will simply be fewer smokers, rather than a burgeoning black market. Surely, though, it can’t hurt to try? Whilst it will be hard to enforce, just making cigarettes harder to access must have a reductive effect on the number of smokers.
Though I think the current criticism of the law is not unfair, I still can’t say I am against the concept. This is largely driven by the fact that it seems to be one of the first times in a long while that Labour and the Conservatives seemingly agree on something. It feels like fairly good news that there is one thing the two parties can reach unanimity on: the betterment of the NHS and the promotion of public health. And honestly, I am on board with almost anything Liz Truss dislikes.
“Street boxed Store (corner store)” by Teddy Kwok is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.