The Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control (CQCT) believes that Canada should follow in New Zealand’s footsteps by banning the sale of cigarettes to young people born after 2008, but our country must first take more urgent action.
• Read also: People born after 2008 will no longer be able to smoke cigarettes in New Zealand
• Read also: World No Tobacco Day: Let’s demystify alternatives to smoking
• Read also: Denmark wants a tobacco-free generation, even if it means banning it
“It’s good as a measure, but Canada and Quebec are very behind New Zealand in the fight against tobacco. We are often in tow at home, ”explains Flory Doucas, spokesperson for the CQCT.
Courtesy
Flory Doucas co-director and spokesperson for the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control. COURTESY
She refers, among other things, to a new law passed by the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday. This aims to prevent a new generation from becoming smokers. Thus, anyone born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes in this island country.
“Thousands of people will live longer and healthier lives, and our health system will benefit from 5 billion dollars,” said Ayesha Verrall, the New Zealand politician behind this project which will come into force in 2023.
tax more
According to Flory Doucas, Canada must first tax tobacco products more before adopting such a measure. She cites as an example that the cheapest pack of cigarettes costs about $9 in Quebec. However, the same product is sold for three times more in New Zealand.
“This is the first step to take. We know that taxation is the most effective way to reduce addiction to smoking. We have to change that in Canada first. It’s just common sense,” she said.
The CQCT also invites the authorities to reduce the level of nicotine in our cigarettes and to reduce the number of places where they are sold.
“We know that reducing accessibility to tobacco reduces the number of relapses among former smokers. […] Afterwards, we can aim to ban the sale of tobacco in Canada among young people as well,” says Flory Doucas.