Eric Crampton: A shift to smoking harm reduction

If Guyon Espiner at Radio New Zealand is right about Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s plans for tobacco policy, there is reason to celebrate. At least for those who care about harm reduction, proportionality, and civil liberties.

The incoming government’s coalition agreements had already signalled a substantial change in approach to tobacco policy. Rather than rely on punitive measures that make life harder for current smokers, the incoming government would make it easier for smokers to shift to far less harmful ways of getting nicotine.

Eric Crampton: Nipping tobacco prohibition in the bud

On 5 December 1933, ninety years ago this week, America ended alcohol prohibition.

Fourteen years of prohibition had reduced drinking, but at a terrible cost. Organised crime took over what had been a legal and taxed market. Gang warfare over alcohol became common. And adulterated black market alcohol caused a lot of harm.