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AVCA warns about NZ Government's Tax Plan

AVCA warns about NZ Government's Tax Plan

The Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) saying that falling tobacco tax revenue is “great to see”, as it means that more New Zealand smokers are shedding the cigs for good to switch to reduced harm alternatives. The organisation commented that if the Ministry of Health tightens vaping regulations too far, “fewer smokers in the future will move to safer and less expensive vaping products.”

The New Zealand tobacco controllers are celebrating the news that Netflix has been forced to remove a large number of scenes depicting smoking, all the thanks to the amazing efforts of anti-vape pressure group, the Truth Initiative.

“This latest slump in tobacco tax collected was much bigger than expected, and vaping can take a lot of the credit for New Zealand’s declining rates of smoking over the past decade. However, if the proposed vaping regulations come into force vaping will be made a lot less attractive for smokers desperate to quit cigarettes. More Kiwis continuing to smoke might help Government revenue, but it won’t help reduce New Zealand smoking’s death rate of 5,000 people per annum,” said AVCA co-director Nancy Loucas.

The Government had passed its vaping legislation last year and the Ministry and Health was taking public comments on its draft vaping regulations, and were proposing that general retailers like supermarkets, service station and convenience stores, would have to limit their selection of vape flavours to just mint, menthol and tobacco. These flavour limitations would come into effect on 1st August 2021.

“Children are protected as much as possible with vaping products now heavily sanctioned R18. Significant penalties apply if retailers breach that, and like with alcohol and cigarettes, retailers will take the privilege incredibly seriously.”

The AVCAS has called on both the Associate Health Minister the new Health Select Committee to once again revisit the restricting of availability of e-liquid flavours.

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