03 June 2011

“Imperial Tobacco does not want children to smoke or to use tobacco products”, said Mr Tony Mears, Sales & Marketing Director of Imperial Tobacco New Zealand. “We believe that the decision to enjoy tobacco products is a choice for adults only.”

“The Government introduced a range of tax increases in April last year, with the intention of reducing youth smoking. Unfortunately, the disproportionate and misguided regulatory measures preferred by the Government and the anti-smoking lobby are not working,” stated Mr Mears.

Mr Mears said other policies such as the proposed retail display ban and plain packaging, which the Government is considering, will be equally ineffective. “There is evidence from other countries that have introduced display bans that these do not reduce youth smoking rates, in fact they may have the opposite effect. Evidence from Iceland and Canada shows smoking prevalence has actually increased in some regions as a result of display bans.” Mr Mears also stated that “in regard to plain packaging there is no evidence anywhere in the world that plain packaging will reduce smoking prevalence.”

Imperial Tobacco believes that retail bans and plain packaging just open the door wider to an increase in illicit tobacco. “Globally, the illicit tobacco trade makes the up the fifth largest sales volume in tobacco. The criminals who import illicit under-the-counter products do not have any qualms about selling these cheap, unregulated products, let alone to children.”

Mr Mears cites Australia as one example quoting that “a recent report by Deloitte shows the trade in illicit tobacco in Australia has jumped by 150% in just 3 years. Despite the fact that Australia has had a 25% excise increase in April 2010 and introduced tough display bans in most states there has been little impact on smoking rates.”

“Instead of introducing further draconian regulations, the New Zealand Government should focus more on education to control youth smoking rates,” stated Mr Mears. “Imperial Tobacco seeks to work with the government to identify strategies that will actually be effective at discouraging the sale of tobacco products to children and controlling youth smoking.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media