Tobacco tax review ‘not ruling anything out’
WELLINGTON: Nothing is being ruled in or out in a review of tobacco taxes, including reducing excise and pushing out the Smokefree 2025 target, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa says.
‘‘In terms of whether or not we will continue the tax or not will be a decision that Cabinet will have to make in around November,’’ Ms Salesa said yesterday.
‘‘I’m not ruling in or ruling out anything. All I’m saying is that in November Cabinet will have a decision on excise tax.’’
A review of the impact of tobacco tax, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, is looking at the financial impact on smokers, their families, illicit trade and crime.
It is due to be completed by November.
Ms Salesa, who has ministerial responsibility for tobacco control, said an action plan being drafted would hopefully get New Zealand to its Smokefree 2025 target but it was not realistic for some hard to reach groups such as Maori and Pasifika smokers.
Asked whether the date could be shifted further out, Ms Salesa said: ‘‘I’m not ruling that out.’’
But Health Minister David Clark said the Government still hoped to reach that target, which is actually a reduction to 5% of the population.
‘‘The smokefree goal is set, alongside other smokefree goals around the world, and it requires minimal amounts of smoking across society and that’s what we’re aimed at.’’
Dr Clark said banning tobacco products from dairies was not something being considered.
‘‘Generally bans, wherever they’ve been tried in the world . . . don’t work terribly well. Crime goes up and the taking of substances doesn’t necessarily go down.’’ — RNZ