Increased Tobacco Tax Continues to 2020

ASH New Zealand congratulates Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox in their further commitment to 10% tobacco tax increases until 2020.

This commitment is a step in the right direction; however the evidence says that tax increases needed to be at 20% to benefit more communities. This commitment also does not exempt the government from making additional increases in the future.

Tax is only one of a number of measures needed to ensure that the tobacco industry is unable to usher the future generation into smoking addiction. It is well established that young people are particularly sensitive to higher cigarette prices, and the 10% increases appear to have been very effective in deterring smoking.

ASH director Stephanie Erick says, “It is now more important than ever that the Standardised (Plain) Packs bill is passed immediately to achieve New Zealand’s goal of Smokefree 2025”.

More information on tobacco tax in New Zealand is available from the ASH website: http://www.ash.org.nz/our-current-campaigns/tobacco-tax/

ASH New Zealand is a registered charity that produces and collects sound evidence to enable policy makers and communities to contribute to a Smokefree Aotearoa New Zealand by 2025.

~Ends

© Scoop Media