Obesity, smoking, alcohol in firing line

A coalition of health promoters and academics have joined forces to lobby the Government for more regulation on food, tobacco and alcohol companies.

Health Coalition Aotearoa includes 25 health groups and 55 health professors working to reduce the burden of preventable diseases associated with obesity, tobacco and the harmful consumption of alcohol.

Coalition members included the Cancer Society, Alcohol Action NZ, Ha¯ pai Te Hauora, the Heart Foundation and academics from Otago, Victoria, Massey and Auckland universities.

Hapai Te Hauora spokeswoman Selah Hart said that the group wanted the Government flex its legislative muscle to help ‘‘un-mesmerise our communities so they understand the harms’’.

‘‘It’s about fighting the big corporations that have huge bank accounts to continue to propel all of these products into our households,’’ Hart said.