New Zealand has taken a huge step towards creating a smoke-free society.
The pacific island plans to reduce daily smoking to under 5% for all population groups across the country by 2025. Whereas most countries require citizens to reach a certain age before they are legally allowed to buy cigarettes, New Zealand’s new legislature will make it impossible for those born after a certain date.
Under the new Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill that was passed in Parliament, the sale of smoked tobacco products is prohibited to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. Doing so will result in a fine of $150,000 NZD ($95,910).
“Even COVID or the 1918 influenza pandemic cannot compete with the death toll that tobacco extracts on our people,” said Associate Health Minister, Dr. Ayesha Verrall. “There are 4500 people who die of tobacco in New Zealand each year and it is our leading preventable cause of death. There is no even overselling what a difference it will make for people. We have the chance once and for all to take control of a product so deeply, that it kills half the people that use it.”
