Is the imminent total ban on vaping for locals in the Cook Islands on the first of August a little like our health ministry jumping out of the pot and into the fire? Ruta Mave writes.

It has been known for years that smoking is bad for you and nothing seems to be deterring people from doing it, not even graphic photos of diseased lungs put off a determined smoker from lighting up.

Alcohol has been known for years to be bad for you but instead of banning alcohol or even putting up the drinking age to 21 like it is in America, there is silence. Is there an actual agenda in our health ministry to improve overall health in our people or is it based on knee-jerk reactive policies?

Vaping is a tobacco industry marketing answer to seemingly introduce a way to reduce smoking that was acceptable within society as it did not incur the wrath of passive smoking side effects on non-smokers. All the while they were still encouraging the inhalation of nicotine and thus exposing new and former smokers to becoming addicted. It doesn’t matter the way the habit is achieved so long as it sells and profits the industry constantly and consistently. 

Banning vapes and raising the smoking age because it is bad for you is a great initiative to close the stable gate before the horse has bolted. The health ministry must take a bow for hammering this home so quickly and easily that it was passed as law in Parliament well before many other pressing matters of health or education gathering cobwebs could be addressed.

Yes, smoking is part of the problem of non-communicable diseases and heart disease in our community but much more so is alcohol. Why is no one bothered to enforce drinking laws?

The popular premise for the rushing through of the vape ban was often cited due to a child or children, as young as six years old, seen or reported to be vaping. Some of this evidence came from a survey where school children reported anonymously on their social habits.

This shows we can depend on these results and take them seriously as to what is happening to our youth out there and we are so concerned and so keen to parent our communities’ children because after all it takes a village to raise a child. Then why have we not taken equal drastic and immediate steps to protect our children, some as young as six years old, from being raped and sexually abused by their family members? Why is incest not banned?

Incest is illegal not to mention immoral and wrong in this Christian society, but a child has to prove in court they were wronged. They have to go up against defence lawyers who totally victimise them again and accuse them of leading on the activity that occurs under the roof they thought was safe by the protectors whose job is to keep them safe. When it comes to protecting children and women from sexual abuse suddenly the village voices vanish.

Is the emotional and mental health of our children not as equally important as their lungs?

Banning vapes and protecting the child from addiction to nicotine and further lung, heart or other chronic illness later on in life is admirable but there is no guarantee they won’t gain the same afflictions from their heavy sugar and fats dietary habits. Protecting a child from sexual abuse can aid stopping generational habits and improving the overall health and healing that affects our economy and long-term stability of our community. 

I can understand the fear of the health ministry that the action of puffing on a vape stick mimics the action of cigarette smoking and could lead a child down the path of ill health in the future that comes from inhaling.

But the proof of dad was a drunk, the son is a drunk being passed down is common place. The generational cycle of abuse of children who see dad hit mum think it is normal and acceptable repeat the cycle when they have children. Banning alcohol or raising the drinking age will reduce a lot of abuse immediately and improve our community health’s future right now.

They don’t put photos on cigarettes of beaten and bruised women and children as a result of smoking, because having a cigarette or twenty outside, has not been proven to lead to abuse of others, only to the smoker.

The overwhelming evidence of alcohol inciting violence on other innocent people on all levels is legendary; yet we never see pictures of abused or car accident victims on bottles of beer highlighting the dangers of drinking too much. Why?

Vapes are banned, smoking age is raised, and 36 new applications to sell tobacco has been approved. God help us.