CAPHRA Marks World No Tobacco Day with a Call for Science-Based Policy
May 13, 2026 by prlog.org
CAPHRA Marks World No Tobacco Day with a Call for Science-Based Policy
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, calls are growing for tobacco and nicotine policies to be guided more consistently by scientific evidence and harm reduction principles. Advocacy groups across the Asia-Pacific region argue that regulation should better distinguish between combustible cigarettes and lower-risk smoke-free alternatives. They contend that policies failing to recognise relative risk may discourage smokers from switching to less harmful products. At the same time, supporters of a science-based approach emphasise the importance of combining youth protection with realistic strategies for reducing smoking-related disease. The debate reflects broader global tensions over how public health policy should respond to evolving nicotine technologies and emerging evidence.
8.60% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 364,000 current smokers in New Zealand.
SOURCE: GSTHR
