"There would be an estimated NZ$5 billion ($4.7 billion) in savings on future public health expenditure as a result of the plans." - NZ Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall
A saving of $5B/y would mean $8,333 per smoker, per year.
Don't forget that a typical smoker in NZ might pay about $5000/y in tobacco tax ($100/w for 2.5 packs or 1 pouch per week taxed at 80%+).
Let's call it a saving of $13,333/y then.
But wait! This $5B figure obviously can't be based on eliminating smoking, just a reduction. So the estimate must be based on saving much more than $13,333/y for each smoker this 'stops'.
On top of that, smokers on average die much younger than non-smokers. Healthcare costs are mostly accrued in old age.
Governments, when objectively correct, tend to release data to support their position. The only value in measuring expenditure alone is in how the uneducated interpret it as more favorable.
The population of NZ is 5,000,000.
The smoking rate is 12%.
A saving of $5B/y would mean $8,333 per smoker, per year.
Don't forget that a typical smoker in NZ might pay about $5000/y in tobacco tax ($100/w for 2.5 packs or 1 pouch per week taxed at 80%+).
Let's call it a saving of $13,333/y then.
But wait! This $5B figure obviously can't be based on eliminating smoking, just a reduction. So the estimate must be based on saving much more than $13,333/y for each smoker this 'stops'.
On top of that, smokers on average die much younger than non-smokers. Healthcare costs are mostly accrued in old age.