Charge Smokers More to Help Them Quit

MEDIA RELEASE - THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND
Embargoed until 10.30am Wednesday 21 April

Charge Smokers More to Help Them Quit – PHA

The Public Health Association says it’s time for the government to get serious about increasing tobacco taxation.

The Public Health Association told the Maori Affairs Select Committee’s Inquiry on the tobacco industry and Maori tobacco use this morning that efforts to help Maori reduce smoking need to be supported by increases in tobacco taxes.

The PHA’s National Executive Officer Dr Gay Keating says for tax hikes to work, they need to be regular, substantial and highly publicised.

“Governments need to stop seeing tobacco tax as a source of pocket money they can spend as they wish and start dedicating a bigger slice of it to initiatives that help Maori quit.”

Dr Keating says the Select Committee hearings have shown that tobacco use has had a devastating effect on Maoridom.

“The current approach isn't working for Maori. Smoking rates aren't reducing, and young Maori are still taking up smoking. It’s now time to bite the bullet and use taxation as a tobacco control tool.”

The PHA is calling for a national Maori tobacco control strategy involving co-ordinated action right across government.

“The tobacco tax take should be used to support a national leadership team, to train and support the Maori smokefree workforce, and to resource dedicated social marketing and cessation services for Maori.”

In its submission, the PHA also called for the government to ban point-of-sale tobacco displays, introduce plain packaging of tobacco products, and tax roll-your-own and loose tobacco to same extent as packaged tobacco.

ENDS

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