There's a bit more to it than that.
Smokefree 2025 is focused on stopping the next generation of smokers & although smoking rates have dropped in young people, there are still a significant number, too many who start & become addicted.
Although overall smoking rates are dropping, they are still increasing in Māori & Pacifica groups.
Smokefree 2025 also forces the tobacco companies to reduce the level of the addictive nicotine in cigarettes making it easier for older smokers to quit.
Most long term smokers actually want to quit this legally sold product which kills, but once in the grip this highly addictive product, are unable to.
Smokefree 2025 also is going to drastically reduce the number of places where cigarettes can be sold & we know that reducing the availability of cigarettes helps, otherwise tobacco companies wouldn't fight it so much.
The aim is to reduce the number of smokers in the population to 5% by 2025.
It is estimated the Smokefree legislation would have saved between 5,000 - 8,000 lives, plus there are many more who suffer stokes, amputations, heart disease, emphysema & other smoking related illnesses.
It is a huge burden on our Health System consuming not just money but also tying up resources like Specialists, surgical theatres, nurses, doctors, medical product etc.
Other countries like the UK looked at our legislation & have copied it. The British PM has said it was too important to drop.
Unfortunately tobacco sales are a significant source of income for most Dairys, hence they don't want to lose that income.