Wānaka Alcohol Group chair Niamh Shaw has described vaping as one of numerous “adult-sized problems” among local young people, and this month associate health minister Dr Ayesha Verrall confirmed vaping is becoming increasingly popular.

Now, Upper Clutha residents can have their say on proposed government measures designed to reduce the number of young people vaping.

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) principal Nicola Jacobsen told the Wānaka App she “absolutely supports” tougher legislation on vaping. 

The youth-focused government proposals include restricting access to single-use vapes, which are cheaper and easier to access for young people, Dr Verrall said.

Disposable vapes are “an easy gateway product to vaping and internationally there has been a dramatic increase in younger people using them,” she said.

A second proposal would create proximity restrictions for new specialist vape retailers so they are not near schools and sports grounds.

A third proposal seeks to restrict the names and descriptions on vape advertising to reduce the attraction of vaping products to young people. For example flavour names such as ‘cotton candy’ and ‘gummy bears’ may no longer be allowed, Dr Verall said.

Nicola said vaping has been marketed “very effectively” to young people. 

It is also a “risk taking behaviour” and challenging boundaries and taking risks is something that young people will do, she said.

“We need to support the young people in our lives to make the best decisions possible for their health, and tougher legislation on vaping would help us to do this.”

Last year the New Zealand government passed a world-first tobacco law which bans cigarette purchases for the next generation by implementing an annually rising legal smoking age. 

Other measures to make cigarettes less accessible and affordable contributed to New Zealand reaching the lowest smoking rate ever recorded late last year - but vaping presents another risk.

“Vaping has a role to play in ensuring smokers who wish to quit smoking can do so using vaping products. However youth vaping rates are too high and we need to strike a better balance,” Dr Verrall said.

Find more information on the proposals and have your say here.

PHOTO: Supplied