New Zealand to end tobacco use in four years

In New Zealand, the draft New Zealand Action Plan to Quit Smoking aims to reduce smoking rates to 5% by 2025. Proposals are being put forward to limit outlets, reduce smoking initiation, and strengthen smoking cessation support.

The prevalence of daily smokers in New Zealand is currently 12%. The New Zealand government's new action plan aims to increase this rate to 5% by 2025, in just a few years. The stated goals are to help current smokers quit and prevent children and young people from starting to smoke.[1]Particular attention is paid to reducing social inequalities, as disadvantaged populations usually pay the highest health and financial price for tobacco. In this country, women in the Maori community are the most affected by smoking.

A package of measures to reduce access to tobacco in New Zealand

Numerous measures, some ambitious and innovative, are being considered to make tobacco products more expensive, less accessible and less addictive, while strengthening anti-smoking policies and existing initiatives. The drastic reduction in the number of points of sale, or even the establishment of a specific sales channel (pharmacies, specialist shops), is subject to consultation, in an attempt to limit the financial losses of general stores.[2]. Raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco could be raised from 18 to 20, and then gradually to 23, to prevent people born since 2004 from starting to smoke. A minimum price for tobacco is under consideration, while seeking to curb the growth of contraband. A significant reduction in nicotine levels to limit tobacco's addictiveness or the removal of filters, a major source of environmental pollution, are also among the avenues being explored. A major awareness campaign is planned in the media and on social networks to encourage smokers to quit.

A clear focus on social inequalities

The New Zealand branch of the Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) association has acknowledged the relevance of these measures in the medium and long term, while urging the government to take the first steps very quickly if it intends to meet the deadline of a tobacco-free generation by 2025.[3]. ASH thus emphasizes the need to reduce health damage caused by tobacco and to combat social inequalities. A community approach is favored, leaving the Maori community to coordinate a certain number of actions that concern it. Commercial operations targeted at this community, notably by Philip Morris NZ, confirm that disadvantaged populations constitute a core market for manufacturers.[4].

Keywords: End of tobacco, New Zealand

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[1] Ministry of Health, Government of New Zealand: Proposals for a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan. Discussion document, 2021, (accessed 04/20/2021)

[2] The New Daily. NZ proposes tough measures to stamp out smoking by 2025. Published on April 15, 2021, (accessed on April 19, 2021)

[3] Scoop Health. ASH Welcomes The Smokefree 2025 Plan But Calls For Immediate Action. Published on April 15, 2021, (accessed on April 20, 2021)

[4] Tobacco-Free Generation. New Zealand: Association calls for reduction of points of sale. Published on March 31, 2021, (accessed on April 20, 2021)

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