We want them banned but the government says tobacco displays can stay. That’s the wrong decision.
Tobacco use kills an estimated 5000 Kiwis each year and retail displays of this deadly product should be outlawed.
Over the last 20 years, New Zealand has gained a reputation for being a world leader in tobacco control. We were one of the first countries to ban smoking in all indoor workplaces. The government’s recent announcement that displays are OK puts us out of step with other leading tobacco-control nations.
Otago University says international evidence shows wall displays are an unhealthy influence on children and people trying to quit smoking. University researcher, Dr George Thomson, says tobacco companies use these displays because they help to “normalise” smoking.
While smoking is far less common than it was 20 years ago, around one-fifth of us are still regular smokers. Consumer NZ believes a ban on tobacco displays is an important step in “de-normalising” smoking and protecting consumers from a deadly product.
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