Much is made of the idea that decreased vape availability will increase cigarette smoking. It is the argument VIANZ (Vaping Industry Association NZ) heavily pushes, of course.
But does the New Zealand government need to 'push vapes' so they are everywhere, in pretty shops, promoted as a healthy alternative, increasing the youth vape and nicotine epidemic in New Zealand? It is neither logical or ethical.
A complete lack of vapes suddenly may indeed encourage uptake of tobacco in some, or may encourage quitting!
This petition's request is for vapes still to be readily available, in pharmacies, for now, and the following looks at how this shift to pharmacies might be enhanced. But it is very important to remember other options are available to address craving for nicotine, the molecule shown above.
Right now the government is wildly pushing vapes, and allows the lack of warnings, and alluring SVRs (specialty vape retailers), enables everyone in retail to start selling 3 flavours, and permits sales online etc., as their protocol to get tobacco smokers to switch. This is an extreme, unnecessary, dangerous imbalance.
A previous update about the current Te Whatu Ora tv ad promoting vaping demonstrates a criminal lack of transparency and advice of health risks.
There should be an immediate multimedia campaign, tv ads, posters, etc advising the public of the hazards of both tobacco and vape smoking.
The campaign should advise clearly and encouragingly on how to quit both and the enormous benefits to be reaped. (A switch from smoking to vape should be seen as a last resort with clear hazards.)
Plain packaging with clear health warnings, closing SVRs and other outlets should accompany this, and the only outlets be pharmacies, with the same R18, no advertising, out of public view etc.
(Some suggest a 2 step process. Close all SVRs immediately, introducing plain packaging, warnings etc then following a 2 month or so campaign go to pharmacy only.)
Going straight to pharmacies, as requested in this petition, in parallel with a multimedia campaign so the team of 5 million are all on board, would be much simpler.
However, a good campaign to the 5 million could enable prescription only, or, and this is recommended by the FDA and American Cancer Society a complete ban given the toxicity, and use of other means of getting off nicotine addiction. They say other products together with counselling are highly effective.
Our government needs to explore these.
For NZ now, putting vapes into pharmacies, with the media campaign, would be a readily acceptable compromise compared with the terrible status quo or prescription or immediate ban, and should be deployed urgently. Hopefully more robust regulation of the toxic vape product, in which of course nicotine is just one of a multitude of chemicals and particles in vape 'gas', will quickly follow.
Labour's weak amendment will ensure the vaping epidemic increases. National need to demonstrate good leadership, and get vapes at least into pharmacies in their first 100 days.