The hysterical reaction to the very sensible idea to reduce tobacco excise in Australia and combat criminal gangs was foreshadowed nine years ago
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXWhbUUE4ko
https://thenightly.com.au/politics/liberal-leader-angus-taylor-says-80pc-tobacco-excise-cut-will-smash-australias-illegal-tobacco-trade-c-22816391
Key Takeaways:
The federal Coalition and One Nation are proposing to slash tobacco excise, reversing years of steep tax hikes that were meant to cut smoking but haven't worked.
Wastewater testing shows nicotine consumption is actually up around 44% since 2017, with roughly 88% of the total nicotine market now illicit.
Despite Australia having the highest per stick cigarette prices in the world, tobacco excise revenue has nearly halved, from about $16 billion in 2019/20 to roughly $8 billion this year, with a further drop projected next year.
Organised crime gangs are cashing in on the black market, highlighted by the 300th firebombing of a tobacco retailer in recent times.
Countries with lower taxation and easier access to vaping, including the UK, Japan, Sweden and New Zealand, have falling smoking rates, and the Cochrane Collaboration has again confirmed vaping is the most effective stop smoking method.
Dr Joe argues Australia should adopt the New Zealand model: cut excise to a sensible level and make vapes a consumer product rather than prescription only, shrinking the black market instead of feeding it.
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Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Remy's satirical video on the "people will die" trope
01:35 Coalition and One Nation's plan to slash tobacco excise
02:27 Wastewater data
02:49 Record cigarette prices, but excise revenue has halved
03:21 Firebombings and organised crime cashing in on the black market
04:07 The "people will die" backlash to a policy aimed at criminals
05:39 Debunking the claim that cheaper legal cigarettes mean more smokers
06:41 Cochrane review confirms vaping is the most effective way to quit
08:17 New Zealand's "across the ditch" model for regulating vaping
09:20 How current policy has outsourced nicotine to criminals
12:55 Bottom line: adopt the New Zealand model
About Dr Joe Unplugged: Dr Joe Unplugged is your home for open commentary on health, wellbeing and life in the broadest sense. We will explore diet, exercise sleep and stress amongst other health matters as well as issues that may impact you and your wellbeing in direct or indirect ways.
Topics and comments on this podcast are general information only and are not in any way medical advice.
Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/
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