Govt claims reducing tobacco retailers will increase ram raids: Data disproves

Data disproves the Government's claims that reducing the number of tobacco retailers would lead to an increase in ram raids according to a public health professor. The Coalition plans to repeal smoke free legislation that would slash the number of tobacco retailers from 6000 to 600, take 95% of the nicotine out of cigarettes and ban sales to anyone born after 2009. In documents obtained by RNZ, the Health Ministry urged the Associate Health Minister to keep elements of the current law and suggested compromises, but the minister rejected them. This morning, the Prime Minister doubled down on his claim that reducing the number of tobacco outlets would increase the black market and dairy crime, despite evidence siggesting otherwise. University of Otago public health professor Janet Hoek speaks to Lisa Owen.