The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) today voiced significant concerns regarding the recently released Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill 2024, which aims to address youth vaping. The bill, released by the Ministry of Health, proposes stringent measures that CAPHRA believes will inadvertently harm adult vapers and people who smoke seeking to quit smoking.
Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, stated:
“We understand and support the government’s intent to curb youth vaping. However, the proposed ban on disposable vaping products, including prefilled tanks, pods, and cartridges, will create substantial barriers for adults who smoke and older vapers. Many of these individuals rely on simpler, disposable products due to difficulties with dexterity and the complexities of refillable devices. This ban could force them back to smoking cigarettes, which is counterproductive to the Smokefree 2025 goal.”
Key Concerns
- Impact on Older Vapers and People who Smoke: The bill’s restriction on disposable vaping products will disproportionately affect older adults and those using vaping as a smoking cessation tool. These individuals often lack the dexterity required for handling refillable devices, making the proposed ban a significant hurdle in their journey to quit smoking.
- Display Restrictions: The bill also proposes restrictions on the visibility of vaping products in retail stores and online. CAPHRA believes that these measures may not effectively prevent youth access and could be better managed with age-gated technologies, such as age-verified identification systems.
- General Accessibility Issues: The overarching regulations make it more difficult for adults to access vaping products, potentially pushing them back to smoking. This is a significant concern, as vaping has been proven to be a less harmful alternative to smoking.
CAPHRA is calling for extended consultation and greater engagement with consumers to ensure that the voices of those who use vaping products as a cessation tool are heard. “We urge the government to reconsider the proposed measures and engage more deeply with consumers and advocacy groups. A balanced approach that continues to regulate youth access while ensuring that vaping remains accessible for adults is crucial. We propose the use of age-gated technologies to prevent youth access more effectively without restricting adults who smoke from accessing the tools they need to quit,” said Nancy Loucas.
Proposed Solutions
- Allow Certain Disposable Products: Introduce exemptions for essential disposable products for older vapers and smokers.
- Implement Age-Gated Technologies: Use age-verified identification systems to control youth access to vaping products.
- Extend Consultation Period: Allow more time for consumer feedback and ensure that the perspectives of adult vapers and smokers are considered.
CAPHRA remains committed to supporting harm reduction strategies that help people who smoke transition to less harmful alternatives. The organisation calls on MPs to find a balanced solution that protects youth while not disadvantaging adults seeking to quit smoking.
CONTACT
Nancy Loucas,
Executive Coordinator CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates)
Mobile: +64272348643
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://caphraorg.net/
