Cigarettes banned in New Zealand for those born after 2008 in ‘smoke-free future’ plan
A bill passed by New Zealand’s parliament will outlaw the sale of cigarettes to younger generations in a bid to bring about a smoke-free future.
The legislation, passed Dec. 13, aims to gradually phase out cigarettes by prohibiting anyone born after 2008 from buying smoked tobacco products, meaning the minimum age for buying cigarettes will rise over time, officials said.
The law will also significantly limit the number of retailers permitted to sell such products, according to officials.
A maximum of 600 retailers will be licensed to sell tobacco smoking products by the end of 2023, according to the New Zealand Herald. Currently there are 6,000 retailers selling tobacco products throughout the island nation.
The bill is part of a government initiative aimed at bringing smokers below 5% of the nation’s population by 2025. To meet that goal, the government also plans to provide support for quitting and ensure children are protected from tobacco marketing campaigns, according to the initiative’s website.
Currently, about 15% of the country’s 5 million inhabitants smoke, according to government statistics.
The legislation received mixed reactions from lawmakers and ultimately passed with 76 votes in favor and 43 votes in opposition, a video of the proceeding showed.
“There is no good reason to allow a product to be sold that kills half the people that use it,” Associate Minister of Health Dr. Ayesha Verrall said in Parliament, according to the Associated Press. “And I can tell you that we will end this in the future, as we pass this legislation.”
Simon Watts, a member of the center-right National Party, said on the floor of Parliament that the notion that the bill would save lives is “absolutely rubbish.”
The vast majority of young people vape, as opposed to smoking cigarettes, he said, adding that a ban will penalize existing smokers and force them to go to the black market.
Associations representing small businesses previously stated they wanted compensation for lost business as a result of the legislation, according to Scoop Business, a New Zealand online news site.
Globally, over 1 billion people regularly smoke tobacco products, causing millions of deaths annually, according to a study published in the BMJ.
The practice, though still widespread, is less pervasive than it was in past decades and it has particularly declined in some high-income countries, according to the study.
Watchful cat, slithering snake among 2,000-year-old drawings found in Peru. Take a look
Child handing out candy at Oregon holiday parade is hit by speeding driver, cops say
Bar puts sign up saying victims of domestic abuse aren’t welcome, Illinois photo shows
‘Grumpy green guy’ doesn’t count as a passenger for driver in HOV lane, Arizona cops say
