By Celsias
Posted on July 23, 2012. Listed in:
In September 2008 a Health Select Committee called for tobacco to be kept out of sight.
In November 2010 a Maori Affairs select committee also recommended, as part of a hard-hitting report, getting rid of displays.
In July 2011 the Government finally passed the legislation – to become effective on Monday July 23 2012.
“The day has finally arrived when we can celebrate what we have done to protect our children. We thank everyone involved,” said Skye Kimura, the Cancer Society’s Tobacco Control Advisor, especially the Hon Turiana Turia who has been such a staunch advocate. “Our next job is to introduce plain packaging and then we will be well on our way to reaching our goal of a smoke-free Aotearoa by 2025.”
The Government is having 2nd thoughts in the face of the threat of prolonged and expensive litigation over plain packaging, the next step. Options: (1) an ongoing surcharge on tobacco to cover the cost of litigation. (2) Just arrest the bastards for selling a product known to cause harm when used as directed. An electrical manufacturer whose products randomly electrocuted users could expect to be in the slammer before sundown, why not the baccy barons?
Written in July 2012