Reversal of smoking ban criticised as ‘shameful’ for lacking evidence

Reversal of smoking ban criticised as ‘shameful’ for lacking evidence

New Zealand is repealing the world’s first smoking ban passed under former prime minister Jacinda Arden’s government to pave the way for a smoke-free generation amid backlash from researchers and campaigners over its risk to Indigenous people.

The new coalition government led by prime minister Christopher Luxon confirmed the repeal will happen on Tuesday, delivering on one of the actions of his coalition’s ambitious 100-day plan.

The government repeal will be put before parliament as a matter of urgency, enabling it to scrap the law without seeking public comment, in line with previously announced plans.

    • Grimy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      28·
      11 months ago

      Smokers do not live in vacuum with their own healthcare that is only paid by them.

      Smoking has huge impacts on our healthcare system, the high is shit and they only exist to make rich people richer and keep poor people poor.

      I say this as someone that recently restarted, I wish it was banned when I first started. It’s easily the thing that I’ve wasted the most money on uselessly and has caused the most damage to my health.

      • kofe@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        11 months ago

        Cannabis was illegal when I started smoking it. We tried banning alcohol, and look how that turned out.

        • Grimy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          I think there’s a huge difference between them. Alcohol and weed is used occasionally by most and is more of a social activity(“lets go for drinks, lets smoke a J”). Smoking affects all it’s users negatively while the others really only do so for a small subset of the population.

          No one only smokes occasionally, it is much more addicting then the others for the general population and isn’t done in a social context neither. No one invites their friends for a cigarette on a Friday night.

          There is just nothing positive about cigarettes. I don’t think it’s at all comparable.

        • Grimy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          11 months ago

          I never said any of those things. It’s also worth noting that it doesn’t take anything away from current users but stops new ones from starting.

          I’m advocating this because of my bad choice, something that came about mostly because I was a stupid kid that got caught in their propoganda. Back when I started it was still “cool”. I don’t want other kids to make those same mistakes and there isn’t a situation where it isn’t a mistake.

          But sure, keep licking malboros boots lol

            • Grimy@lemmy.worldEnglish
              2·
              11 months ago

              I did own it.

              If you spent your time making home made explosives as a kid and one blew up in your face, should your first hand experience be ignored because it turned out badly?

              And it’s not so crazy when the personal choice can only harm the person and it’s only being given to line the pockets of Marlboro and co. You’re acting like if this is abortion we are talking about.

              If your so confident, go out and buy a pack, and then buy one a day for the next two years and then try to quit. You don’t know what you are defending.

      • Timecircleline@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        4·
        11 months ago

        I think I remember reading that smokers, paradoxically, cost less to the social security net systems including healthcare because they die so young. So I guess don’t feel so bad? Other than the money and health problems.

        For real, I’m sorry that you have this addiction that forces you to take part in an activity it sounds like you don’t enjoy (or at least the enjoyment does not even out the downsides for you.)

        • Grimy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          I will quit again but I ultimately wish I had never started, and I’m fairly certain that sentiment is found in practically all smokers.

          I understand the importance of having choice, even bad ones. But if 99% seriously regret one of the choice and are affected negatively with no gain by it, why even offer it?

          And society can easily shrug off the negative effects but it’s just not healthy imo. A solid percentage of our population is a slave to this stuff and it’s just bad form.

          The 99% might be an exaggeration, I’m clearly not impartial about it.

    • Pulptastic@midwest.socialEnglish
      4·
      11 months ago

      That’s fair if it harms no one else and costs true societal cost to do. Two giant ifs that are never true. Yesterday I inadvertently walked through a vape cloud at the entrance to my gym because you can’t vape inside so they took a yuge puff just outside the door otw in. Secondhand happens and many smokers are totally indifferent about it.

      The tax on cigarettes should cover the amortized lifetime health care cost added by taking on the added risk. If it’s a million bucks to take care of a lung cancer victim at 65, add that cost less interest divided by the # of cigarettes smokes to the price of each one.

    • Kroxx@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      I agree.

      Raise the age to 21 so high schoolers have less access, educate all children/teens on the dangers of tobacco use, restrict smokers to designated areas in public that allow sufficient ventilation from the non smoking population, let adults make their own health choices. Prohibition just isn’t effective and tobacco is a plant, educate and regulate.