A new Bill introducing three key measures which mark the beginning of the end for cigarettes and tobacco in New Zealand has been described as "world-leading" by the University of Otago’s Aspire Research Centre.
The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament earlier this week, and aims to remove nicotine from all smoked tobacco products; greatly reduce the number of tobacco retail outlets; and introduce a smokefree generation, creating a cohort of young people born on or after January 1, 2009 who will never legally be sold tobacco products.
Researchers from the centre, which carries out work to support the Smokefree 2025 goal, commended the Bill for placing the Treaty of Waitangi at its heart.
Co-director Andrew Waa said the Bill continued work begun by Maori leaders, who first proposed a tobacco-free vision, and the Maori Affairs Select Committee, which recommended a Smokefree Aotearoa goal.
He believed the three "transformative and world-leading measures" would bring profound public health benefits.
Since Maori leaders first called for the goal, more than 50,000 people had died from smoking.
"It’s time to eliminate the terrible burden that tobacco use inflicts, and the great harm it causes to Maori and Pacific peoples," he said.
Fellow co-director Prof Richard Edwards said removing nicotine would make tobacco products non-addictive.
"Research studies show people who use denicotinised cigarettes smoke less, are exposed to fewer toxins, and are more likely to quit and become smokefree.
"Denicotinised cigarettes will mean young people who experiment with smoking are much less likely to become addicted to nicotine.
"We see denicotinisation as a powerful measure that will help free thousands of people who smoke from a toxic addiction; it will also protect future generations from smoking-related cancers and other diseases."
Another co-director, Prof Janet Hoek, commended proposals to reduce the number of outlets selling tobacco.
"Tobacco is the only product that kills people when used as intended.
"It’s time to recognise tobacco is not a normal consumer product and should not be sold alongside milk, bread and other staple items."
She also welcomed plans to create a smokefree generation.
"These measures are world-leading but they have a strong research foundation that give us confidence they will bring substantial, rapid and sustained reductions in smoking prevalence," she said.
