Turia Issues Warning Over Tobacco Price Drop

Source from:  NZCity 07/06/2009

Tariana Turia has firing a warning shot across the bows of tobacco companies. The Associate Health Minister says they are treading a fine line by cutting the price of cigarettes to make smoking more affordable in the current economic recession. She has asked the Ministry of Health to investigate whether or not the decision by two companies to drop the prices of several brands is legal under the Smokefree Environment Act. Mrs Turia says she has huge concerns about what the companies are doing. She expects the ministry to report back by the end of the month, and says if they are in breach of the act she will have no hesitation in recommending they be taken to court. Enditem