For Immediate Release: 7 June 2016

New Zealand Vapers Support Age Restriction on E-Cigarettes

Today the New Zealand Vaping Alliance is calling on the Government to hold an inquiry into e-cigarettes and vaping to clear the air on products that provide smokers with a 95% safer option.

“New Zealand vapers and retailers of e-cigarettes also strongly support a clear proof of age campaign for these products and a requirement that they should only be sold to people over 18 years of age,” said QJ Satchell, President of the NZ Vaping Alliance.

“With the Government saying that they are waiting on more advice about e-cigarettes, NZVA suggests New Zealand take learnings from the United Kingdom’s Public Health England E-cigarettes: An Evidence Update, and the Royal College of Physicians E-cigarette Report - both concluding that e-cigarettes are likely to be beneficial to public health.

“New Zealand should have standards but we need to be very aware of the over regulation as seen in other parts of the world. There are now parts of the UK (Wales for example) who trying very hard to un-do the overly strict regulations that were initially put in place”.

“For New Zealand, standards pave the way for vapers to have confidence in the e-cigarette products and e-liquids they are actively seeking,” said Mr Satchell.

“With the Prime Minister saying he’s received advice on the usefulness of e-cigarettes and vaping, surely he’d welcome a public inquiry about products that are actually reducing smoking related illnesses and are not costing the taxpayer a cent.

“The time has come for New Zealand to have a public debate on e-cigarettes and vaping. To hold out for ‘more research’ risks losing significant public health gains as a result of Kiwi’s switching to vaping,” Mr Satchell said.

[ENDS]

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