Advocacy - Tobacco Control Amendment Bill

As Parliament discusses the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, we need an honest conversation about the laws already in place. Retailers support protecting children, but the weakest link remains awareness, implementation and enforcement.

The Ministry of Health must invest more effort in helping retailers and the public understand existing requirements, while ensuring they are applied consistently. Any new rules on sales near schools, licensing and packaging must be clear enough to work at the shop counter.

A stronger law alone will not protect children if the rules we already have are not enforced.