Auckland Recommends Ban on Outdoor Smoking
Auckland’s Regional Public Health Service are calling on the Government to increase tobacco tax and ban smoking in many outdoor public areas such as beaches, playgrounds, bus stops and outside buildings. The recommendations include increase tobacco tax by 5 per cent plus inflation per year, banning tobacco vending machines, licensing tobacco retailers. Dr. Andrew Lindsay, clinical leader of the health service’s alcohol and tobacco team told that 5000 deaths a year can be ascribed to smoking.
Auckland Regional Public Health Service has called for the Maori affairs select committee’s forthcoming inquiry into the tobacco industry and the effects of tobacco use on Maori, expecting that inquiry will re-frame debate on tobacco and help to make New Zealand smoke free within 10 years. Auckland wants to ban on indoor smoking at work places also which can reduce smoking opportunities for workers and bar patrons.
Prime Minister John Key has said a tax increase on tobacco may be considered in this year’s Budget to reduce smoking. “Significant tobacco tax increases has been designed to reduce smoking rates this year in Greece, Bulgaria, Japan, France, the European Union and the American state of Washington”, said Smoke free Coalition director Prudence Stone.
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Tags: Smoking ban