Yes Prime Minister

YES

PRIME MINISTER!

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern becomes the first world leader to openly celebrate vaping…while introducing a radical new generational ban on smoking.

Words: Jordan Millar

In a huge triumph for harm reduction, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern endorsed vaping on national TV.

This marks the first time a world leader openly and clearly acknowledged the public health benefits of e-cigarettes, with Ardern praising them as ‘important tools’ to help people stop smoking. She said: “We know that half of those who take up smoking will die from its effects and I think everyone’s in agreement that we need to find safer alternatives and ways for them to quit.

“We’ve already seen vaping used by people as a tool to stop smoking…we know that it is making a difference.”

Ardern highlighted that the success of vaping has enabled policymakers to tackle tobacco use and push towards their ambitious smoke-free 2025 goal. And while she knows people will want to debate the use of e-cigarettes amongst New Zealand’s youth, the PM said her focus was currently on preventing people from taking up smoking in the first place.

Michael Landl of the World Vapers’ Alliance applauded Ardern’s move and encouraged other political leaders to follow suit. The WVA director said: “The science and experiences of millions of vapers show that it is the most efficient smoking cessation tool and finally politicians are recognising this as well. “I see this as a huge step in the right direction for vapers and public health in general…I hope more country leaders will do the same.” The PM’s endorsement of e-cigarettes came as New Zealand officials announced a series of radical new measures set to stub out smoking. Under the laws, Kiwis aged 14 and younger will never be able to legally purchase tobacco products with the goal of creating a smoke-free generation.

And with 80 percent of smokers picking up the habit before they turn 18, officials hope this new regulation will see cigarette use plummet. The ban comes alongside a slew of ‘world leading’ measures that would restrict access to cigarettes for the nation’s near 500,000 smokers.

Associate health minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said: “Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand and, while we are heading in the right direction, we need to do more.

“We want to make sure young people never start, so we will make it an offence to sell or supply tobacco products to new cohorts of youth…this is a historic day for the health of our people.”

She added that the legal purchasing age for tobacco products – currently 18 – will increase year on year, eventually eradicating smoking completely.

THE STRICT NEW LAWS WILL ALSO INCLUDE:

• Significantly reducing the number of retailers that can sell cigarettes

• Lowering the nicotine content in cigarettes and

• Funding health promotion activities that support the smoke-free target.

While critics argued that these stringent measures infringe on the freedom on New Zealanders and would only lead to a black market for tobacco products, Dr. Verrall said they were a necessary step to end the smoking epidemic. She said: “At the current rate of progress, it is expected to take decades to reach smoke free 2025 for all…we only have four years.

“This plan is therefore unapologetically bold…no single intervention will get us there; it will take a package of measures to reach our goal.” Dr Verrall continued: “We have a smoke-free future in our sights and I am proud to be a part of it and ask every New Zealander to join in making our country one where every child can grow up in an environment free from the destruction that smoking causes.”

The science and experiences of millions of vapers show that it is the most efficient smoking cessation tool and finally politicians are recognising this as well.