‘Messy situation’ in New Zealand over laws on vaping

New Zealand has taken a similar approach to the UAE towards e-cigarettes, with mixed results in the number of smokers switching to less harmful alternatives.

The island nation has about 550,000 daily smokers and aims to be smoke-free by 2025.

Last year, its Cabinet Social Policy Committee decided in principle to legalise the sale of e-cigarettes with appropriate controls, although a recent change of government has stalled those plans.

While people can import up to three months’ supply of nicotine products for personal use, it is illegal to sell or supply the products. Despite the ban on sales, New Zealand allows vaping in smoke-free places.

“Current legislation in NZ is not ideal and has created a messy situation,” said Hayden McRobbie, clinical director of the Dragon Institute for Innovation and a professor of public health intervention at the Queen Mary University of London.“Most people are in agreement there should be an 18 age restriction on using these products and further restrictions on advertising.

“There is also widespread agreement that e-cigarettes have the potential to make an impact on New Zealand’s 2025 smoke-free goal and improve public health by offering a route out of smoking, without offering a gateway to smoking for children and non-smokers.”

Proposed changes to the law include a ban on vaping in workplaces and other no-smoking areas, but to allow all retailers to display e-cigarettes and liquids in their shops.

Restrictions on advertising and sale to under-18s will remain prohibited.

The daily smoking rate is about 13.8 per cent of the population in New Zealand, but it is about 42 per cent in the indigenous Maori population.

In a nationwide survey, 17 per cent of smokers said they had tried e-cigarettes, and 3 per cent were regular users.

Regular vapers in New Zealand gave a variety of reasons for taking up e-cigarettes, despite them being banned from sale.

Almost half said they did so to help quit smoking altogether, with 46 per cent saying e-cigarettes were less harmful.

Another 36 per cent said they vaped because it was cheaper than tobacco, while 35 per cent said they preferred the smell. Only 29 per cent said they took e-cigarettes to help reduce the tobacco products they were smoking.

A survey of more than 600 smokers conducted by The

National in March found more than half had tried e-cigarettes or e-pipes for a nicotine hit since a 100 per cent “sin tax” was introduced in October.

“It is clear these products are aimed at people who smoke but the best advice remains that they should be looking to quit smoking completely,” Prof McRobbie said.

“We should be supporting people who have tried to quit and failed, by encouraging the use of e-cigarettes.”

Most people agree there should be an 18 age restriction on using these products and further advertising restrictions HAYDEN MCROBBIE Dragon Institute clinical director