Smoked Tobacco: A win for the gangs (16 Mar update)
Smokefree generations from 1 January 2027 will legally be able to grow your own and smoke
Anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will be a permanent child and unable to buy any smoked tobacco. Proving how hypocritical this policy is, the supposed “smokefree generation” will legally be able to buy tobacco seeds off TradeMe to legally grow and “manufacture” 5 kilograms per annum for “personal consumption.” As the GST inclusive excise is now $1,930 a kilogram (around $700 more than the same weight in silver), organised criminals will have little difficulty securing supply. Why “experts” cannot see this beggars belief.
“Dairygeddon” with 90% outlet reduction from 1 July 2024
While we secured an 18-month delay to the reduction in outlets that kicks in from 1 July 2024, this government will destroy hundreds of businesses by arriving at a number that has no evidence to it. Market forces has seen smoking fall a third in two years but by destroying outlets, the gangs will know the places where tobacco sells. The pre-determined consultation outcome means that licenses are unlikely to be awarded until early 2024. This government just does not care. 600 outlets will be welcomed by the gangs who supply “illegal” canabis to 170,000+ kiwis. Tobacco is legal and much easier to grow too.
Then almost zero nicotine tobacco may only be sold from 1 April 2025
On top of slashing outlets, the government wants to slash nicotiinee content in cigarettes to almost zero at 0.8 milligrams of tobacco per gram of tobacco. Yet, there own budget forecasts assume cigarette sales with grow(!). Massively taxed (taxes will be $2,000+ a kg next year) smoked tobacco that delivers no satisfaction will not be bought. If you wanted policies to boost gang and criminal revenuers then this is it. Kiwi smokers will be forced to go to the gangs for “real tobacco” or in the thousands of places a licensed seller is not.
General Vape Retailers (i.e. us) survive for the moment
To sell the three regulated vape flavours (mint, menthol and tobacco), retailers will need to register as “General Vape Retailers.” Despite being the places that see smokers converting to vaping, self-appointed experts at Otago University want them out of dairies, liquor stores and service stations. This is crazy but what do you expect from marketing experts who have degrees in English literature. All theory. Even GPs want only Chemists to sell vapes. Yet more theory when Australia admits its approach has been a disaster. Our positon is to let market forces operate that has proved to be far more successful than any other intervention.
Specialist Vape Retailer conversions
A number of dairies maybe be looking at applying to become Specialist Vape Retailers. The only way in which you can actively sell vapes. The law is being tightened so that they must be a suitable business premises. What this means we assume there will be clarification but expect this to become more difficult after the new regulations later this year.
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