LONDON (Reuters) - Health and tobacco campaigners said on Monday that New Zealand's plan to repeal laws that would ban tobacco sales for future generations threatened lives and put international efforts to curb smoking at risk.
A ban on smoking for future generations was subsequently proposed in the United Kingdom, with other countries also considering similar rules.
"This is major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry – whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives," said Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa in New Zealand.
Incoming Finance Minister Nicola Willis told New Zealand's Newshub Nation that the former government's measures would have significantly reduced tax revenues.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of UK health charity ASH, said that smoking costs public finances nearly double tobacco tax revenues.
Persons:
Jan, Boyd Swinburn, Sarah Jackson, Nicola Willis, Deborah Arnott, ASH, Emma Rumney, Ed Osmond
Organizations:
Labour, Health Coalition Aotearoa, New Zealand's Department, University College London Tobacco and Alcohol Research, Incoming, New
Locations:
United Kingdom, New Zealand, England