New Zealand reverses course on tobacco control

The newly elected New Zealand government has announced that it will abandon the main flagship measures put in place by the previous government: a ban on selling tobacco to young people born in 2009 or later, a restriction on the number of points of sale, and reduced nicotine cigarettes. The reason given is to prevent the development of the black market, an argument regularly put forward by the tobacco industry. Public health stakeholders are outraged by this decision.

There anti-smoking law adopted in late 2022 by the previous Labour government was intended to lead to a tobacco-free generation. It included a ban on selling tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009 from 2027. It also envisaged reducing the number of tobacco outlets from 6,000 to 600 from 2024, and marketing very low nicotine cigarettes from 2025.

These provisions were swept aside by the new ruling coalition on Monday, November 27, 2023, as soon as the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, took office. He considered that the previous government's anti-smoking plan risked leading to an increase in the black market - an argument frequently used by tobacco manufacturers. He also considered that the reduction in the number of points of sale would have led to a concentration of tobacco sales in a few establishments, which would then have become targets for organized crime.

A decision aimed at financing a tax cut

The challenge to the 2022 anti-smoking law was not part of the National Party's manifesto, and had only been mentioned during the election campaign by the populist New Zealand First party (6% of the votes)[1]. According to the BBC, it was under pressure from its political allies ACT New Zealand, from the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers (ACT), and New Zealand First that the National Party agreed to abandon the anti-smoking law. However, the National Party is home to former Philip Morris lobbyists such as Chris Bishop, who became Minister for Housing, Infrastructure and Sport in the current government.[2]Chris Bishop had thus fought against the neutral packaging project, supported by the National Party at the beginning of the 2010s, before becoming a parliamentarian for this party.

Repealing the 2022 law will require a parliamentary vote, which is unlikely to be a problem for the ruling coalition. Nicola Willis, the new finance minister, has admitted that the government is counting on tobacco tax revenues to fund a tax cut for the middle class, a key campaign promise.[3]The new government has nevertheless shown its willingness to continue the fight against smoking using more conventional tools, such as awareness campaigns.

Public health actors deplore this decision and are taking action

The announcement of the government’s decision to repeal the 2022 Act has sparked an outcry among public health stakeholders in New Zealand and around the world. “This is a major loss for public health and a huge win for the tobacco industry, whose profits will be increased at the expense of New Zealanders’ lives,” said Health Coalition Aotearoa. “The idea that tax cuts are being funded by people who continue to smoke is absolutely shocking,” added Emeritus Professor Robert Beaglehole, chair of New Zealand’s Action for Smokefree 2025. Māori organisation Hāpai Te Hauora said the move posed a direct threat to the health of Māori and Pacific indigenous peoples, who bear the heaviest toll from tobacco in the country.

All recalled that smoking causes 5,000 premature and avoidable deaths of New Zealanders each year, which could have been to be spared using the 2022 law. They have also launched a petition demanding that the 2022 law be maintained and believe that its implementation is inevitable in the long term.

The New Zealand government's decision has also not dampened the determination of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who indicated on October 4, 2023 that he would implement a similar project for a tobacco-free generation.[4]. It should therefore be prohibited to sell tobacco from 2027. in England to anyone born since January 1, 2009. Other countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, have also adopted tobacco-free generation projects. In France, the project of a tobacco-free generation, i.e. a smoking prevalence of less than 5% for people born from 2014, is planned for 2032.

Keywords: New Zealand, National Party, New Zealand First, ACT New Zealand, tobacco-free generation

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[1] Corlett E, New Zealand scraps world-first smoking 'generation ban' to fund tax cuts, The Guardian, published November 27, 2023, accessed November 28, 2023.

[3] Mao F, New Zealand smoking ban: Health experts criticize new government's shock reversal, BBC News, published 27 November 2023, accessed 28 November 2023.

[4] Brown F, Rishi Sunak's position on smoking ban 'unchanged' as New Zealand scraps policy, Sky News, published November 24, 2023, accessed November 28, 2023