No more smoking in New Zealand... Good or Bad?

[AviatorTom]

No more lighting up in NZ?

A new law announced 9 December 2021 in New Zealand would ban anyone born after 2008 from ever purchasing cigarettes in the country.

The law, which is expected to pass in 2023, would raise the legal smoking age (currently 18) by one additional year every year, beginning in 2027. So: New Zealanders 14 and under in 2023 will always be younger than the legal limit, while current smokers (and those older than 14 in 2023) will always be permitted to buy cigarettes.

New Zealand has been trying to stub out smoking for a minute. In 2011, the country announced a goal of reducing the smoking rate in the country to 5% by 2025, and experts believe Thursday’s announcement may keep them on track.

Around 9.4% of New Zealanders smoke, down from 18% in 2008.
The rate among the Indigenous Maori population is significantly higher, at 31%.
An average pack of cigarettes in NZ costs about $22.50 USD.

[above courtesy of Morning Brew]

[Sargentcaptain]

New Zealand is a shithole. I don't like smoking, but banning it is retarded and it only proves that in that hellhole people don't have the rights to their own bodies, the people are merely renting them from their government which is increasingly authoritarian. This will also lead to black markets and that's gonna make things even worse from an actual health based stance.

[exitseven]

In the US, raising the price of cigarettes to ten bucks a pack did more to reduce smoking than all the phony government programs.

[Razp_Sorbet]

Cigarettes are upwards of $35 a pack it hardly did anything to reduce smoking.

[exitseven]

@Razp_Sorbet how do people afford it?

[Razp_Sorbet]

They buy them instead of food, clothes, in spite of taking care of their kids 🙂 then they complain about being poor while they buy their 2nd pack in a day.

[exitseven]

@Razp_Sorbet damn, something has got to be done.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[TrueConfection]

I'm okay with it being banned in public spaces. People should have a right to do what they want in their own homes. I'm sure the big tobacco companies will push back.

[AviatorTom]

One of the arguments is that smoking leads to disease (emphysema, throat cancer, lung cancer, for example), which requires hospitalisation and treatment, much of which is paid by taxes and puts an additional strain on society. Therefore, in private or in public doesn't matter.

[TrueConfection]

Ok, well that's a whole new thread about who should pay for medical costs. I think that argument would open the gates to complete control over our lives. There are cancer warnings on everything including cleaning products, air fresheners, gasoline, batteries, dry cleaning, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.

[AviatorTom]

You make a good point, but most of those products you mention are things people have to use from time to time. Smoking is optional.

[TrueConfection]

I agree. I think some Green New Deal folks think cows and airplanes are optional too.

[Razp_Sorbet]

It's definitely going to have an impact. Eventually everyone who is able to buy them will die 😅 smoking is a massive issue here.

[AviatorTom]

Thanks for the info from a native Kiwi, close to the action.

[Razp_Sorbet]

Though many people don't understand the concept and reply with the "they'll just get someone older to buy them"... Mm imagine being 50 asking someone to buy you cigs

[loves2learn]

I think people will still buy cigs on the black market.

[AviatorTom]

You're probably right.

[boxxie2002]

It's just going to lead to an illegal market at a higher price.

There should still be a choice for people to smoke or not.

They don't have a problem with alcohol even though that affects more people directly and indirectly than smoking these days

[purplepoppy]

It's a halfarsed idea. Just ban the sale of tobacco for everyone. A few hardcore users will get it on the black market as they would any drug but most people wouldn't.

[RobT312]

Interesting idea
maybe it will work since it is isolated... would never work in the us for example as Canada would just get rich from cigarette sales

[Mangospacho]

I’m assuming NZ collects taxes on tobacco like here in the US. If they really care about reducing the use of tobacco, they could just ban tobacco but they probably don’t want to lose that tax revenue either.

[WindAtMyBack]

Sounds like a business opportunity for smugglers and home gardeners.

[ewok737]

From a public health perspective a good move.
But a lot of people will see it as an invasion on personal choice.

[NamerOfStars]

Oh, goody. Prohibition. Because that's worked SO well EVERY other time it's been tried.

Welcome to the War on Drugs, New Zealand. May it be just as pointless for you as it is for us.

[emperor90]

Kind of pointless because people can cheat the system and black markets will take advantage of this

[888theGreat]

You don't have freedom. I guess you don't have guns either I guess.

[najekim]

More deterioration of the rights of the private individual.

[dustybiker]

Interesting to watch how it goes.

[AviatorTom]

Good point. NZ may be a pilot / beta test site for other countries to see how they might be able to reduce smoking.

Is it worth mentioning that smoking causes more deaths in the world per year than COVID-19.

[Stoner710]

Good for health bad for freedom of choice

[Layafell]

Good they should introduce that everywhere!

[joeldalton]

Hahaha. The hobbits would have trouble with that.

[anylolone]

I raise you prohibition.

[ChrisMaster69]

Just ban them period.

[Iron_Man]

Great

[Waldoe]

Good idea...

[Anonymous]

Fascism in leftist countries, what do you expect.

[AviatorTom]

There aren't many that would call NZ a fascist country.

[Opinion Owner]

Controlling what one puts in one's body is fascism.. As is locking people down, forcing masks, and medical treatments.. Disagree all you like. It does not change whats true. The fact that new Zealand and Australia both are putting unvaccinated people in concentration camps..