Thursday 9 August 2012

Non-Existent Domino Theory Spotted in NZ

Listen. I'd pass on this kind of stuff if it weren't for the fact that it wouldn't be reciprocated by those who are paid out of your taxes not to.

It's just that Deborah Arnott's kneejerk response to criticism over plain packaging of tobacco is looking like becoming the most ill-judged public health pronouncement in history!

I know I mentioned it for the umpteenth time last week, but for new readers ...
"[...] The “domino theory” i.e. that once a measure has been applied to tobacco it will be applied to other products is patently false. The same argument was used against the ban on tobacco advertising, but 9 years after the tobacco ban in the UK, alcohol advertising is still permitted with no sign of it being prohibited."
It doesn't get any less embarrassing for Debs. Now, even New Zealand is weighing in to make her look even more stupid than she probably feels for uttering such shite.
Health officials worried about an obesity epidemic want fast-food advertising dropped from public property, including bus shelters, and are questioning fast-food and soft-drink sponsorship of public events.

Dr Toomath said advertising was a major environmental factor which could be changed. The paper to the board's public health committee described a "cityscape saturated in advertising" for high-calorie, low-nutrient food and sugary drinks.

She said reducing the chance to buy types of food was the initial step but moves on sponsorship could follow. Asked about Auckland City Hospital's Ronald McDonald House, she said sponsorship was powerful and its issues difficult.

"We've reached that purist approach with tobacco, completely hardline. There's no way in the world we would have a Rothman's Centre for Kids in Hospital. You start off saying we won't promote the sale of goods, then the next step is [not allowing] sponsorship of these companies."
"Patently false" was the term I think Arnott used. That there is no way on Earth that "once a measure has been applied to tobacco it will be applied to other products".

Lucky for Arnott, then, that New Zealand anti-food tax spongers didn't refer to tobacco policy as a lead, eh?

Oh, hold on!


6 comments:

nisakiman said...

Oh, we don't have to go all the way to New Zealand to make a mockery of The Dreadful Arnott's drivel:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-committee/news/12-03-26-alcohol-torcfe/

One of the items on the agenda of the 'alcohol strategy' is: Plain packaging and marketing bans..

Dick_Puddlecote said...

Yes, I remember writing about that when it was published. It was the first of very many items since which have made Arnott look stupid. ;)


http://dickpuddlecote.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/plain-packaging-for-alcohol-here-we.html

Gregster said...

Why not just put everything in plain packs? It looks to be the way they're going. When is the madness going to end?

nisakiman said...

So what's all this with the "MOD" after your name then? You casting aspersions on us aging rockers, or what? Bleedin' mods - bunch of poofters riding around on their poncy Lambrettas with loads of mirrors and horns. Not a bloody Bonneville amongst 'em. Bleedin' woossies...

Dick_Puddlecote said...

Haha. Nothing to do with me. Something new from Disqus I assume. It gives me a certain aura, though, so I can't grumble. ;)

Legiron said...

It also gives you a Parka with a target on the back ;)