Ep 166: People Will Die

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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