Hot Topic | Action Plan for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025
On 9 December 2021 the Government launched an action plan setting out actions it intends to implement to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal. ASPIRE2025 members strongly support the plan and believe the measures outlined provide a realistic opportunity to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal.
What is in the Action Plan?
The plan addresses disparities in smoking and the health inequalities that they cause, particularly for Māori and proposes strengthening Māori governance of the tobacco control programme. Key measures include reducing nicotine content of tobacco products to very low levels, reducing and restricting the number and type of retail outlets selling smoked tobacco products, and introducing a smokefree generation policy to prevent future generations becoming addicted to smoking. We believe this comprehensive package of measures, if fully implemented, could bring about significant and lasting change, and greatly hasten achievement of the Smokefree 2025 goal.
Further details about the plan are available here:
We have published two blogs summarising and critically assessing the proposed plan.
We have also published an Opinion piece setting out how implementing this world-leading plan could save many lives.
Evidence supporting these proposals
Blog series
ASPIRE2025 researchers are writing blogs that discuss different measures, comment on the evidence supporting these, and explain their potential implications. Those published to date include:
Mandated denicotinsation of smoked tobacco products.
Modelling study of the impact of mandated denicotinisation of smoked tobacco products
Evidence that supports reducing retail availability and counterarguments to industry claims.
Tobacco product availability through community pharmacies.
Tobacco-free generation policy.
The case for banning cigarette filters.
Social marketing for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025
Eliminating smoking disparities for Māori.
Smokefree outdoor areas (one of the few important areas not addressed in the plan)
The Smokefree 2025 Action Plan: key findings from the ITC New Zealand (EASE)
Frequently asked questions
FAQs explaining the Action Plan’s strengths and background on three key proposed measures: reducing the availability of tobacco; reducing the nicotine content in tobacco products to minimal levels, and introducing a Smoke Free Generation.
Video series
To further inform and to generate some understanding of these measures, we spoke with some key international experts in these areas.
Jon Berrick talks about creating a smoke-free generation
Eric Donny talks about removing nicotine from tobacco products
Jamie Pearce talks about reducing the number of tobacco retail outlets.
Luk Joossens talk about illicit tobacco markets.
Tom Novotny talks about removing cigarette filters.
ASPIRE2025 