“We totally support the Government banning cigarette smoking in cars when children and young people are present, but to also lump vaping in makes absolutely no sense,” says Ben Pryor, director of Alt New Zealand.

“We’re surprised vaping will be treated exactly the same as smoking in this instance when you consider Public Health England published compelling research last year that concluded ‘there have been no identified health risks of passive vaping to by-standers’.”

Mr Pryor says that same report also found that switching completely from smoking to vaping has substantial health benefits – something New Zealand’s Associate Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health, health pressure group ASH, Quitline New Zealand, and public health organisation Hapai Te Hauora all openly acknowledge.

The director of the leading New Zealand-owned and operated vaping and e-cigarette company says he was encouraged with the Associate Minister’s paper presented to Cabinet late last year on amending the 1990 Smoke-free Environments Act. It was titled ‘Supporting smokers to switch to significantly less harmful alternatives.’

However he believes the announcement of a blanket ban to hit even sensible parents from vaping in cars will do nothing to help transition Kiwis from cigarettes, and only further stigmatises vaping with no scientific foundation.
“Rest assured we are not advocating for vapers to fill their cars with thick vapour while kids are in the back. In fact, the device we have launched in New Zealand emits a very small amount of vapour that dissipates incredibly quickly compared to cigarette smoke.
“Today’s announcement seems to have missed an opportunity to encourage smokers to switch to a healthier alternative. Instead, vaping is just being chastised as much as smoking, at a time when the Government’s own officials are making a case to promote it as an effective cessation tool.”
He says only a few days ago the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published research that showed vaping and e-cigarettes are nearly twice as effective for those wanting to give up smoking than nicotine-replacement products.

“There is a growing consensus in the political, medical and scientific world that vaping significant helps people quit smoking and is much healthier.

“It’s time for vaping to come out of the shadows and be treated differently to cigarettes. Otherwise New Zealand will never achieve Smoke Free 2025,” says Mr Pryor.

www.getalt.co.nz

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