November 29, 2023
Reti defends smoking backdown
Health Minister Shane Reti says the new Government is committed to reducing smoking rates despite its decision to repeal Labour’s smokefree legislation.
He says reducing the number of tobacco outlets from 6000 to 600 would create crime hotspots, and claims rules to prevent the next generation from buying smoking tobacco created ambiguities.
“The key tool at the moment is vaping which has made a significant difference on adult smoking rates which was its purpose. It’s come with consequences around underage vaping which is another piece of work that needs to be done but that remains the key tool and we will be looking to maximise that as well as looking at other tools we can bring to the toolkit,” Dr Reti says.