1096 days ago

Mike Yardley: How can so many New Zealanders still smoke?

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

The proposed Smokefree 2025 Action Plan includes significantly reducing the number of retailers able to sell tobacco, limiting the nicotine content of cigarettes, and raising the age of purchase every year, so that anyone born after 2004 could never lawfully be sold tobacco.

Columnist Mike Yardley says most lower-income earners who smoke shell out more money in tobacco excise than they do in income tax.

"They should be vigorously urged to switch to vaping as a smoking cessation alternative, given it’s not just far less hazardous to their health, but also to their back pocket," he says.

What do you think of the proposed Smokefree 2025 reforms? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

More messages from your neighbours
11 hours ago

Greeting customers costs nothing

Kay from Papanui

I went to New World Bishopdale this am. Deli dept. the young person just looked at me at the counter, no acknowledgement at all. I asked what I wanted and couldn’t resisting saying, how’s your day going? Staff need training like at Mitre 10. Acknowledge the customer!! Hello, what can I help you with today and smile? Not a lot to ask but younger people seem to lack basic greeting manners. Have you found this? Maybe I’m just expecting too much!!

A
6 hours ago

Garage Sale Saturday 20/4

Amelia from Mairehau

Hi guys! We're having a garage sale tomorrow at 77 Aylesford St, 8:30-2:30. There's a huge range of womens clothes (Taking Shape, Pagani, Dangerfield), fiction books, Pop! vinyl figures, art, craft and sewing supplies. Come and make us an offer, we want this stuff gone!

10 hours ago

Do you own these items?

The Team from Canterbury Police

Police have located the below items believed to have been stolen on or before December 2022 and we are looking to reunite them with their owner/s.

If you own these items and are able to prove ownership (i.e. a photo, description, document or Police report) we would like to hear from you.

You can contact Police by calling 105 or going online to www.police.govt.nz... using ‘Update Report’ and referencing file number: 221031/8794.