New Zealand, First Nation To Legally Ban Tobacco, Reverses Law

New Zealand, which had implemented the world's first tobacco ban law, is now set to reverse it amid heavy criticism.

New Zealand, which was the first country to legally ban tobacco for future generations, repealed the law on Tuesday. Earlier, it was decided that from July 2024, the sale of tobacco would be banned for those born after January 2009. Additionally, there were plans to lower the nicotine levels in smoked tobacco items and slash the number of tobacco vendors by over 90 per cent. 

The new coalition government confirmed the repeal and announced that it would take place on Tuesday as a matter of urgency. This allowed it to scrap the law without seeking public comment in accordance with previously announced plans. This is despite researchers and campaigners warning of the risk that people could die as a result of the sudden reversal.

According to Reuters, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello stated that the government was committed to reducing smoking but would adopt a different regulatory approach to discourage the habit and reduce the harm it caused.

"I will soon be taking a package of measures to the Cabinet to increase the tools available to help people quit smoking," Costello said, adding that regulations on vaping would also be tightened to deter young people.

The decision has been widely criticised for its potential negative impact on health outcomes in New Zealand. It has also sparked concern over its disproportionate effects on Maori and Pasifika populations, who have higher rates of smoking.

The legislation passed last year received international acclaim, with research models supporting the key reforms. Modelling had indicated that the smoke-free laws could potentially save up to 5,000 lives each year, according to BBC. Also, in 2022, public health modelling indicated that the implementation of the Smokefree policy would potentially save New Zealand's health system around US$1.3 billion (£630 million) over the subsequent 20 years.

In the past year, 80,000 adults quit, as per the national data. Currently, about 8% of New Zealand's adult population smokes, BBC added.

Reaction From Researchers Over The Repeal

Janet Hoek, a researcher at Otago University, stated that the repeal contradicts robust research evidence, disregards measures strongly advocated by Maori leaders and will perpetuate health inequities. "Large-scale clinical trials and modelling studies show the legislation would have rapidly increased the rates of quitting among smokers and made it much harder for young people to take up smoking," said Hoek, co-director of a group studying ways to reduce smoking.

Health experts strongly criticised the sudden reversal. "We are appalled and disgusted... this is an incredibly retrograde step on world-leading, absolutely excellent health measures," Prof Richard Edwards, a tobacco control researcher and public health expert at the University of Otago was quoted as saying by BBC.