Tobacco advertising ban significant leap forward

Ban on tobacco advertising significant leap forward

The Heart Foundation is delighted the Amendment Bill to ban tobacco display advertising in stores will be debated in parliament tomorrow (22 September).

Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway will have his Smoke-free Environments (Removing Tobacco Displays) Amendment Bill read on Wednesday, 22 September after it was picked from the ballot of private members’ bills.

Heart Foundation Public Health Strategic Advisor, Maggie McGregor, believes that a removal of retail tobacco displays would be a significant step in realising the vision of a tobacco-free New Zealand.

“Tobacco kills around 5,000 New Zealanders every year and many of these deaths are preventable; almost all smokers start before they are 18. A complete ban on tobacco displays in retail settings will help to reduce the numbers of smokers by protecting young people from exposure to tobacco advertising, as well as assisting those looking to quit,” says Ms McGregor.

Two studies carried out by UMR Research earlier this year indicate overwhelming public support for the display ban. 76 percent of all those asked supported the complete removal of tobacco displays with sixty percent of current smokers supporting the ban.

Ms McGregor says that with such strong public support that the decision is straightforward. “Smokers and non-smokers alike are calling for the removal of these displays to protect our children from powerful advertising. The health interests of New Zealand must surely come first,” she says.

“The goal of the Heart Foundation is to help stop New Zealanders dying prematurely from heart disease and we believe banning tobacco advertising in store, would bring the country one step closer to this,” says Ms McGregor.

The Heart Foundation is urging MPs to support the bill on its first reading so that the issue can be properly debated.

ENDS

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