New Zealand Falls Short Of WHO Best Anti-Smoking Measures Because Of Vaping

New Zealand Falls Short Of WHO Best Anti-Smoking Measures Because Of Vaping

In the efforts to combat tobacco use and promote public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a set of six measures known as MPOWER. These measures serve as best practices for countries to follow in order to effectively reduce smoking rates. Unfortunately, a recent WHO report reveals that New Zealand falls short of meeting all of these measures due to its promotion of vaping.

While New Zealand is on the right track and nearly meets all of the WHO’s goals, the country is hindered by its failure to ban the promotion of tobacco, particularly tobacco vape products. Dr. Victoria Egli, a research fellow at the University of Auckland focusing on child health, highlights the concern that the marketing of vaping by tobacco companies is reaching New Zealand’s children and leading to an increase in youth vaping rates.

To truly meet the WHO’s anti-smoking guidelines, the government must implement a complete ban on all forms of tobacco marketing nationwide. The recent legislation to ban vape stores within 300 meters of schools is a step in the right direction, but it’s important to extend these restrictions to other child-centric spaces such as playgrounds and movie theaters.

Janet Hoek, a professor of public health at the University of Otago and co-director of Aspire Aotearoa, suggests that New Zealand has already gone beyond the WHO measures in many ways. The country has implemented policies to reduce tobacco outlets, denicotinization, and the introduction of a smoke-free generation. These measures have the potential to be transformative. However, the aggressive targeting of young people to encourage vaping remains a concern.

To address this issue, Professor Hoek proposes removing vaping products from dairies and convenience stores and making them available only in specialist R-18 stores. This way, the staff in these specialized stores will possess greater knowledge about the products and can provide better guidance for smokers looking to transition to vaping.

Additionally, disposable vapes, which are more appealing to non-smoking young individuals than long-term smokers trying to quit, should also be removed from the market. The aim is to ensure that vaping products are primarily accessible to those who genuinely require it as a reduced-harm alternative to smoking.

While New Zealand has made significant progress in reducing smoking rates across the population, there is a need to focus more on specific communities that have higher smoking rates. The poorest communities and Pasifika populations still face challenges in achieving lower smoking rates. It is crucial to provide adequate support and encouragement to these communities to become smoke-free in the coming years.

In conclusion, while New Zealand has made commendable efforts to combat smoking and protect public health, the country must address the issue of vaping promotion to align itself with the WHO’s best anti-smoking measures. By implementing stricter regulations on tobacco marketing, especially in relation to vaping, New Zealand can further contribute to its goal of becoming smoke-free and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens.