May 04, 2023
Vape marketing undermines anti-smoking push
An expert in consumer behaviour and brand management says Australia has a better chance of combating youth vaping with its prescription-only approach to vaping products.
Dr Marilyn Giroux, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland School of business, says New Zealand’s market-led approach has undermined what was supposed to be a smoking cessation programme.
She says the marketing techniques used by vape companies look like the cigarette campaigns of the 1960s and 70s, and the Government needs to consider access restrictions.
“It’s probably a bit slight to just rely on cutting some of the marketing – the availability of the products if probably what we need to think about now. Restricting it to people who really want to stop smoking. It’s not just for people who want to vape or are starting to vape and may transition to smoking after,” Dr Giroux says.