Dear Members of the Health Committee,
I am writing today to encourage the Committee to make vapes and e-cigarettes accessible to adult smokers as a part of the Smokefree Bill.
Recent reports have raised concerns that a small minority of dairy owners are allowing under 18’s to purchase vapes.
Nobody wants to see children vaping – but I’m concerned that some of the rumoured proposals to curb youth vaping could lead to adult smokers being prevented from switching to a healthier alternative or staying cigarette free.
Drastically reducing the number of e-cigarette outlets, as some are proposing, is simply throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Instead, I would urge the government to throw the book at these rogue dairy owners – and ensure retailers are only selling vapes to those over the age of 18.
Vaping is why New Zealand’s overall smoking rate has never been lower and why the country is on track to achieve Smokefree Aotearoa 2025. Let’s not put that at risk.