Much of this is obvious but deserves comment here. Today's Post quotes the Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall, saying the recent opening of 27 new specialty vape (SVR) shops near schools is 'morally reprehensible'. But this term may unfortunately fit her ministry in this area. The article refers to the Director General of Health, chief executive of the Ministry, Dr Diana Sarfati, approving the licences.
Vape stores are clearly the intended and deserved target of this insult, but the government could also be describing its own behaviour. It knew children should not be targeted and still signed off on these licences aware that the shops would remain under the stated new regulations, and, as said before, on the MOH website the government denies harm of toxicants in vapes at concentrations involved in spite of reputable and widespread evidence that they are a serious risk, and it is clearly intending to allow much more sales and marketing than relate to smoking cessation and which in fact target school age children.
A few other derogatory terms come to mind given the government stance on tobacco smoking and an increase in numbers of studies showing that vaping, so supported by the government, increases likelihood of cigarette smoking.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2723425
Have a good weekend.. At least the word is getting out.