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Political parties' efforts 'lacking in reducing' smoking, alcohol use

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Jul 2020, 9:43AM
(Photo / Getty)
(Photo / Getty)

Political parties' efforts 'lacking in reducing' smoking, alcohol use

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Jul 2020, 9:43AM

Five per cent of New Zealand's health budget is spent on preventing damage caused by tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy eating.

The three are also responsible for a third of the annual loss of healthy living years in the country.

Health Coalition Aotearoa chair Boyd Swinburn told Kate Hawkesby despite this, less than 0.5 percent of the health budget is spent on these issues.

He says banning junk food marketing to kids, healthy foods in schools, and taxes on sugary drinks are all being called for, but never implemented.

Mr Swinburn says Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 is not looking good at all.

"To meet the Government's own target they really going to need to step up and have a comprehensive plan including whole lot of innovative strategies."

Mr Swinburn says the Government's efforts currently are lacking.

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