NZ scraps smoke-free law to fund tax cuts
Addiction Economy Thought For Today - cigarettes and libertarianism
New Zealand's new right wing government has decided to repeal their innovative law which made cigarettes illegal to anyone born after 2008, which the UK has copied (and we think it a good idea but hard to implement).
This is despite savings over a billion in health costs and reduce all cause mortality by 22% in women and 9% in men.
Interesting too that it is a left wing policy there and a right wing policy here.
Rationale is unclear, but spokesperson said party supports “age-appropriate access to nicotine, which in adults is generally as safe as caffeine is.” Which is a bit mealy mouthed as the nicotine might be 'safe' but the tobacco it comes in kills half its users, over 8 million people a year.
Lots of interesting aspects to ponder here
UPDATED: It was loss of tax revenue which was the main rationale. Which is why Rishi Sunak’s move has been surprising.