Australia ’ s draconian anti-vaping laws are being blamed for leaving the country ’ s tobacco harm reduction policies ‘ light years behind ’ the UK and US .
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates ( CAPHRA ) has also accused its planned National Smoking Strategy of ‘ lacking ambition .’
CAPHRA says the country ’ s prescription-only vaping model leaves it ‘ lagging well behind ’ other Asia Pacific countries when it comes to successfully tackling smoking through vaping .
Its Executive Co-ordinator Nancy Loucas said the successful role safer nicotine products can play in helping smokers quit was ‘ completely absent ’ in Australia ’ s draft strategy .
The country wants its overall smoking rate to be ‘ 10 percent or less ’ by 2025 while neighbouring New Zealand has set a tougher five percent target .
Loucas said : “ Instead of banning vaping , New Zealand has regulated it , making it tough for minors to access but available to all adults keen to keep off the cancer sticks .
“ New Zealand is seeing its overall smoking rate tumble , yet the Australian Government fails to accept that the most effective smoking cessation tool available is staring it in the face .”
She added : “ Australia is well down the world
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The Australian Government fails to accept that the most effective smoking cessation tool available is staring it in the face . rankings when it comes to adopting effective THR policies and is light years behind the US and UK .
“ Subsequently , Australia ’ s overall smoking rate has fallen very little in a decade .
“ Without reasonable access to vaping , Australia will struggle to even achieve its 10 percent smoking goal .”
CAPHRA says the Department of Health should reconsider its vaping rules to give its Draft National Smoking Strategy the best chance of success .
It said the 67 countries which have already adopted regulatory frameworks on safer nicotine products were all benefiting from reduced smoking rates .
The advocacy group praised the Philippines which is poised to overturn its vaping ban and regulate safer nicotine products instead . It also welcomed signs that Malaysia and Thailand could follow suit . ( See Shortfills section for more information .)
Loucas added : “ Australia ’ s failed ‘ quit or die ’ approach towards tobacco continues to see over 20,000 smokers die prematurely , with 2.3 million still smoking .
“ Australians desperate to quit smoking and those keen to stay off deadly cigarettes need all the help they can get .”
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