Plain Packaging Doesn’t Work

Imperial Tobacco New Zealand says the New Zealand Government is ignoring available evidence that shows tobacco plain packaging doesn’t work.

ITNZ Corporate Affairs Manager Louise Evans McDonald says the release of draft Regulations by Associate Minister for Health Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga shows that this isn’t an evidence driven policy process.

“There is simply no evidence that plain packaging reduces consumption rates or underage smoking.

“Plain packaging facilitates a down-trading dynamic where consumers switch to cheaper products. The cheapest products will always be found in the illicit market – it’s a gift for criminals.

“The evidence from Australia is clear. In their own words, the decrease in smoking in that country has been “continuing a downward trend from 1991.” Plain packaging has produced no acceleration in a long term trend. It doesn’t fulfil its own objectives.

Imperial NZ says it is appalled that the Government has included restriction on cigarette pack sizes in the draft Regulations in the absence of any evidence whatsoever.

“Out of nowhere, they want to limit pack sizes to either 20 or 25 cigarettes – and either 30 or 50 grams of rolling tobacco. What on earth is that designed to achieve? Surely New Zealanders have a right to make up their own mind how many cigarettes they want to buy?

“The move to restrict pack sizes has nothing to do with smoking rates. This is solely about restricting legitimate competition between companies. It will serve only to benefit one competitor over another – something that the Government has no business being involved in.”

ENDS

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