As time goes on, fewer and fewer people are smoking cigarettes. On the other hand, more people are turning to alternatives like vaping. However, one country has decided that they’re tired of cigarettes and have put in place a measure to ban cigarettes for good.
New Zealand has taken a major step towards a smoke-free future by passing legislation to ban cigarettes. This ambitious move, which was passed by parliament on Tuesday, means that anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be able to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products. This ban is expected to reduce the number of people able to buy tobacco each year until 2050, when 40-year-olds will be too young to purchase cigarettes.
This legislation, known as the Smokefree Environments Bill, has been hailed by Health Minister Ayesha Verrall as a way to save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health treatments for illnesses caused by smoking. The proposed Bill aims to reduce smoking rates to less than 5% by 2025, with the long-term goal of eliminating smoking altogether.
To achieve this, the Bill includes provisions to limit the number of retailers who can sell smoked tobacco products to 600 nationwide and to reduce the nicotine levels in these products to make them less addictive. These measures are expected to help close the life-expectancy gap between Maori and non-Maori citizens, as the overall smoking rate for Maori citizens is currently 19.9%.
However, the Bill does not ban vape products, which have become increasingly popular among younger generations, and has been met with criticism from some political parties, who have warned that it could fuel a black market in tobacco products and kill off small shops.
Regardless, New Zealand is taking a major step forward in the fight against smoking and is leading the way in smoke-free legislation. It is hoped that this ban will result in thousands of people living longer, healthier lives and will be a model for other countries to follow.