New Zealand scraps world-first smoking ‘generation ban’ to fund tax cuts

thehatfox@lemmy.world to World News@lemmy.world – 257 points –
New Zealand scraps world-first smoking ‘generation ban’ to fund tax cuts
theguardian.com
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I do. And as a smoker, I also support attempts to eliminate tobacco. It's a shit drug, only good at making the craving stop for a bit, and it's awful for your health and general quality of life.

And other drugs including cannabis are ok for your health? What about alcohol?

Tobacco is a vice, stop wanting nanny state rules only when they fit you.

Also obesity is the number one killer for Western nations now...where is the sugar and McDonald's ban?

The argument you've presented oversimplifies complex public health issues by lumping together unrelated substances and policies.

Tobacco, universally acknowledged for its lack of health benefits and high harm potential, is incomparable to substances like cannabis or alcohol, which may have varied effects and potential positive uses.

The term 'nanny state' is a reductive way to dismiss nuanced health policies that aim to balance regulation with individual freedom.

Regarding obesity, it's a multifactorial issue. A simplistic approach like banning sugar or fast food ignores the broader socio-economic and lifestyle factors at play (although a sugar tax is probably not a terrible idea).

How so? Tobacco is a vice which has health benefits such as organic pesticides and cognitive research against dementia and Alzheimer's. It's a vice just like cannabis and alcohol is. Neither of which when used in the way the majority of people use them have any health benefits.

Nanny state is exactly what trying to ban a vice is. Prohibition is a nanny state response.

What does that have to do with my comments pointing out obesity is a way bigger problem than tobacco is? Tobacco is being used as a scapegoat, while increased alcoholism and obesity is at epidemic levels. Tobacco is no longer an issue of public health in western nations. Education has basically fixed this.

Weed can have huge benefits for health, just look at multiple sclerosis.

Sugar and fat are good if not abused. But yes, I do believe restaurants shouldn't be allowed to sell 2000 calories monstrosities.

Smoking tobacco has zero (health) benefits. It's just a net loss on society (except for those who produce, sell and tax it) and thus shouldn't exist.

EDIT: better?

Tobacco is used as an organic pesticide

Nicotine is also being tested for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Do alcohol...and tell me if it should be allowed next.

Tobacco is used as an organic pesticide

Nicotine is also being tested for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

nobody has proposed banning them for those uses. are you asserting that someone has?

Literally the post I replied to says it has no benefits and shouldn't exist...

Oh, yes they did.

what about [...]

lol

Really? Great addition to the conversation...love when you nanny state shits show up.

In the UK sugar tax is a thing. People are going to consume stupid amounts of sugar so we may as well increase the taxes to hopefully fund the diabetes mellitus treatment in later life.

In the same vain I support higher taxes on tobacco. Whether that sends people to the black market remains to be seen.

Ok but this isn't about a tax it's an all out ban...so which is it you're ok with the ban or not?

I’m not the other person.

I was merely pointing out there are other ways.

For what it’s worth I am not for banning things. Drugs have been illegal my whole life and it hasn’t stopped me.

they think prohibition works. it never does. History always repeats itself.

don't waste your time on them.

True, they're the same ones who would have been marching to ban alcohol...

The real problem with tobacco is that the use of it harms others around the people using it.

I agree banning drugs is not the best option. Education and support is better.

Gas and diesil cars are the other things can think of that are terrible for the health those around them. And they need to be banned asap too. For multiple reasons. But health is definitely one.

Agreed. Education is the way to move forward. Banning it just creates more problems and solves none.

How does using it harm others? Unless you're straight up locked in a room with a chain smoker for a few years it's about as bad for you as sitting in traffic or near a camp fire.

Education is already working, as a very small portion of western nations smoke now. In the USA it's less than 9% and that's for all tobacco users which includes vaping. So cig smokers are probably around %5 at most now. Tobacco is a non-issue and is blinding us from other problems.