Labour promises to reinstate Smokefree Generation policy

The Labour Party will reinstate its Smokefree Generation policy if it returns to government after the election.The party's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced the policy at a panel discussion in Parliament this afternoon.It would reverse the government's heated tobacco policy - which introduced a 50 percent reduction in the excise duty for heated tobacco products - and introduce a licensing regime for tobacco and vape products.But the policy would not reduce nicotine in products, as was previously planned.Verrall said this was because of the risks of people going to the black market for tobacco - as seen in Australia.