New Zealand Seems Addicted to Cigarette Taxes

New Zealand had planned to restrict the sale of cigarettes to tobacconists and regulate the amount of nicotine in them. 

But now, the country's new government are scrapping the plans. Tax revenue from cigarette sales will let them balance the books on tax cuts elsewhere.

On Saturday, the newly-minted finance minister, Nicola Willis (left), said the measures will be axed before March 2024.

But public health experts have expressed shock at the policy reversal, saying it could cost up to 5,000 lives a year, and be particularly detrimental to Māori, who have higher smoking rates. 

"This is major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry – whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives", said Prof Lisa Te Morenga, the chair of non-government industry group Health Coalition Aotearoa. 

Te Morenga highlighted modelling that showed the regulations would save $1.3 billion in health system costs over the next 20 years, if fully implemented, and would reduce mortality rates by 22% for women, and 9% for men.

Two late goals by Lazio earned the Serie A side a 2-0 home win over bottom side Celtic in Champions League Group E yesterday – therefore, ending the visitors' qualification hopes. 

And it means Celtic's meeting with Feyenoord in Glasgow in two weeks will be a dead rubber for both sides (Atletico Madrid beat the Dutch 3-1 in Rotterdam yesterday) as well as the Scottish champions' final continental game of this term.