Auckland Pinoys, Brand, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cigarette, Filipino people, Health, New Zealand, OFW, Overseas Filipino, public health policy, Public space, Retail, smoking, Tobacco, Tobacco smoking, Wellington, youth

hiding ciggies out of sight, out of mind, for good : note to Phil lawmakers

Noel Bautista

28/07/2012

OutSightColesManCU1001 — this an example of an Australian cigarette showcase, the NZ counterpart will show even less.

IT’S NOT enough that all sorts of media exposure, advertising generation and public affairs sponsorship is to be curtailed forever. It’s also not nearly enough that the scariest, most graphic and direst COPD, emphysema, cancer and tobacco-related warnings are posted on the cartons and cardboard containers. On top of very stringent retail selling, underage / minors prohibitions and the basic prohibition against smoking in public places, confined places, public transport, buildings libraries and almost every place you can imagine, stores of all kinds may no longer display tobacco products in plain sight. I chose to keep that last sentence by itself, for emphasis and clarity. Imagine you, a shopkeeper, selling ciggies but not allowed to showcase them like any product or commodity. Yes, I use the word commodity because, poison cigs may be, but they still provide a so-called “benefit” or pleasure that is desired by human beings. For cigarette smoke, as many of its inhalers know, produce in the body certain reactions that are difficult to replicate in nature. A certain “rush” or shiver that only extreme physical and/or emotional stimuli generate. A temporary calmness that paves that way for thought and focus. Or a kick-start to the circulation after a heavy meal. Regardless of the perceived benefits, the long-term destruction and social evil brought about by ciggies has created a long line of anti-tobacco legislation in NZ, and this latest law disallowing shopkeepers fromn displaying them only the latest. Some experts say it will further deter current and potential smokers from being stimulated by the visual aid of the cigarettes and the encouragement of choosing between colorful brands, much like candies in a glass showcase. Other say it won’t do much for the great majority who are already addicted and already know what to buy and how much the same cost. My best example would have to be my own when I smoked. I knew the brand I liked and the best substitute in case the first wasn’t available, the minimum and maximum price of such brand/s, and what my preferences look like. Now the force of memory and knowing exactly what you like will have be important if one wants to continue smoking. No sign or even a shadow of any tobacco product, no information as to brand, price or availability can be discerned anywhere, and retail establishments face stiff fines should this policy be violated. Whatever you feel about this and other anti-tobacco policies, you can’t deny the symbolic effect of what it means. Imagine entering a grocery store in your country, finding no trace of cigarettes or similar products anywhere, not being allowed to ask about brands price or any kind of information. You have to know exactly what you want, know how much it costs and short of robbing the store at gunpoint, you won’t be given what you want unless you are an adult and are fully aware of what you are buying. One can only commend New Zealand for the political will with which it makes known its anti-tobacco and pro-health policy in favor of its present and future generations. Thanks for reading and onward to a tobacco-free NZ by 2025!