The Government’s Smokefree 2025 Action Plan, which will prevent today’s children from ever legally buying cigarettes, has been hailed as world leading by local smoke-free advocates.
Smokefree Otago, a coalition of organisations which advocate for smoke-free environments and lifestyles in Otago, says the plan and its associated legislation will "kick-start a smoke-free generation".
Acting chairwoman Debby Newton said the action plan had taken blame away from those who smoked and put the responsibility where it belonged, on the tobacco industry.
“I have been working in smoke-free for over 11 years, and at the heart of all our mahi is the health of tamariki and whanau," Ms Newton said.
"Our tamariki are front and centre of this plan.
"The day after the launch, I watched my nearly 6-year-old grandson head off to school on the walking school bus, and all I could think about was none of those children will ever be able to legally purchase cigarettes.
"To be honest, it was overwhelming,” she said.
The Smokefree 2025 Action Plan is aimed at reducing daily smoking prevalence to less than 5% for all population groups across the country by 2025.
Supported by proposed legislation, the action plan has six key focus areas, which include significantly reducing both the number of places tobacco can be sold and the addictiveness and appeal of smoked tobacco products by decreasing their nicotine levels.
New laws will protect
future generations from smoking-related harm by kick-starting
a smoke-free generation.
There will also be increased investment in smoking-cessation support and health promotion and an emphasis on Maori leadership to address inequities.
In her announcement last week, Dr Verrall said the sale and supply of cigarettes to people now aged 14 would be outlawed from the time the law came into effect, the age rising each year.
"People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco," she said.
"As they age, they and future generations will never be able to purchase tobacco, because the truth is, there is no safe age to start smoking."
Researchers from the University of Otago’s Aspire 2025 Research Centre, which carries out research to support the Smokefree 2025 goal, also warmly welcomed the Smokefree Action Plan
Aspire 2025 co-directors Andrew Waa, Richard Edwards and Janet Hoek said the plan put people first.
"It transforms our approach to tobacco and gives us a realistic prospect of realising the Smokefree 2025 goal for all people," they said.
The measures to reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes to non-addictive levels would make it much easier for people to quit and much less likely young people would start to smoke, the directors said.
They also welcomed the tobacco-free generation policy.
“Minister Verrall’s action plan is a world-leading set of measures that will end the tobacco epidemic in Aotearoa and inspire other nations,” they said.
Ms Newton said with 2025 not far away now, Smokefree Otago remained committed to working with communities to achieve a smoke-free New Zealand.
Smoking continues to be the largest cause of preventable deaths and cancer in New Zealand. It is estimated to kill 13 New Zealanders a day — 4500 to 5000 every year.
