Vaping law praised, criticised
A UNIVERSITY of Otago researcher is worried a law change could result in children being attracted to ‘‘vaping’’.
Associate Health Minister Nicky Wagner yesterday announced nicotine ecigarettes and eliquid would be made legal, probably midway through next year.
While some academics praised the announcement, Otago University’s Prof Janet Hoek is worried the law change goes too far.
Allowing ecigarettes to be sold in dairies, service stations and supermarkets would make them too freely available.
Instead, sales should be restricted to specialist stores and pharmacies where users could be given expert advice on transitioning from cigarettes to ‘‘vaping’’, Prof Hoek said.
More detail was also needed on how ecigarettes could be marketed, to prevent companies using ‘‘provocative themes’’ likely to appeal to young people.
Other academics and Dunedin ecigarette retailer Vapourium have welcomed the law change.
They say it will help the Government achieve its aim of making New Zealand smokefree by 2025.
Shops are at present allowed to sell ecigarettes and eliquid. This is made up of propylene glycol, glycerine, and flavouring and produces a vapour when heated. The vapour does not contain nicotine.
Users are able to import nicotine eliquid for personal use and some outlets, including Vapourium in Dunedin, have buyers’ clubs which allow them to legally sell it.
Vaping is not prevented in most places.
Vapourium operations manager Joseph Rennie, who is also the vicepresident of the Vaping Trade Association of New Zealand, said legalisation it was positive and would encourage more smokers to quit and move to ecigarettes.
He was, however, against the move to prohibit vaping in indoor workplaces and other areas where smoking is banned under the Smokefree Environments Act.
‘‘Why would you put people who are quitting smoking somewhere where they are going to be exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke?’’
The Vapourium had been open for almost three years and in that time Mr Rennie had noticed a steady increase in the number of ecigarette users.
However, the law change and trends in other parts of the world suggested a lot more cigarette smokers would transition to ecigarettes.
He agreed with allowing ecigarettes to be sold at dairies, saying allowing sales only at specialist stores would limit access for many smokers.
In announcing the law change, Ms Wagner said the Government was taking a cautious approach.
‘‘This is an opportunity to see if restricted access to ecigarettes and eliquid can help lower our smoking rates, reduce harm and save lives,’’ Ms Wagner said.
Responding to Prof Hoek’s concerns, she said it was about ‘‘finding a balance between giving smokers access to a product that does far less harm than cigarettes, and preventing nonsmokers from taking up vaping and potentially forming a nicotine habit’’.
The new rules for all ecigarettes, whether or not they contain nicotine, would include:
Restricting sales to those 18 years and over.
Restricting advertising to limit the attraction of ecigarettes to nonsmokers, especially children and young people.
Requiring all vaping products meet quality and safety standards.
vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz