New laws on vaping finely balanced

OPINION: Will the new vaping laws that include banning sales to under 18-year-olds actually work to stop youngsters taking up the habit? Or has the delay in regulating vaping meant that it’s too little, too late? An MP from each side of the House gives their views.

Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco. But it’s not harmless. New rules proposed for vaping in New Zealand aim to strike a balance between supporting smokers to quit and protecting non-smokers, particularly young people. These rules would make it harder for young people to take up vaping. We don’t want a new generation of vapers who wouldn’t have been smokers in the first place.

The Government is proposing to ban the sale of vaping products to people under 18; limit the range of flavours that can be purchased from dairies, service stations and supermarkets; restrict access to vape shops so they become R18 spaces; and ban the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of vaping products, as well as vaping in smokefree areas.

Regulating vaping is by no means straightforward, hence delays with the introduction of relevant legislation.

It’s important for people to know that new rules proposed for vaping are just a starting point. There’ll be an opportunity for the public to have its say when the relevant legislation is referred to a select committee

for consideration. The good news is there’s plenty of common ground here.

We all want to reduce smoking- and vaping- related harm.

That means ultimately, in the very long term, a smoke- and vape- free Aotearoa.

But we recognise that to get there we need to be practical. That means encouraging smokers to use less harmful alternatives to quit. And preventing nonsmokers, particularly young people, from taking up either smoking or vaping.

New vaping rules were devised with these goals in mind.

And I’m confident the select committee process, with the input of voices from communities across the country, will iron out any kinks in the current proposal.

There’s conflicting evidence on youth vaping in New Zealand.

A nationwide survey of second-year high school students suggested uptake among non-smokers was low. But some principals have reported higher levels of uptake among smokers and non-smokers alike.

Regardless of the scale of the problem, we know it exists. And parents and teachers are rightly saying we can’t normalise vaping here.

That’s why people have generally welcomed these new vaping rules.

We know there’s a problem. We know where we’d like to end up, albeit in the very long term. Now we just need to fine-tune how we’ll get there.

I think we’re on the right track.

And I look forward to hearing from submitters when the current proposal comes before a select committee. basic framework for quality control.

There are concerns those who wouldn’t have taken up smoking are taking up vaping and schools are struggling to stop the growing trend.

Parents have become increasingly concerned that vapes are being marketed at children. They come in bright colours, have child-attractive flavours and are advertised liberally.

We want to ensure vaping is a tool to help smokers quit, not an easily accessible habit for young teens.

Consumers also need assurances that these products will not be harmful to their health. There are still serious health concerns that come with vaping, including pneumonia, heart disorders and lung disease.

We should remain cautious about light touch regulation of these products because it could normalise the practice. These products should be used as tools to help smokers to quit, not as an accepted alternative to smoking.

We need intelligent regulation to control the quality of vaping products, age and availability restrictions, and rules to manage advertising and information sharing.

It’s evident the Government has dragged its feet at every turn when it comes to regulating vaping.

Their two years of inaction has allowed vaping advertising and promotion to flourish. As with other policy areas, this issue requires strong leadership, something this Government lacks. I’m afraid it could be another case of too little, too late.