• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
New Zealand passes world-first law to ban smoking for next generation

Home> News

Published 07:30 13 Dec 2022 GMT

New Zealand passes world-first law to ban smoking for next generation

New Zealand has clamped down on smoking for future generations in a way that no other country has before

Aisha Nozari

Aisha Nozari

New Zealand has clamped down on smoking for future generations in a way that no other country has before.

A steadily rising smoking age has been introduced in a bid to stop anyone aged 14 and under from being able to legally buy cigarettes.

The country hopes the move will totally outlaw smoking for the next generation, aiming to be ‘totally smoke free’ by 2025.

Advert

New Zealand has clamped down on smoking for future generations in a way that no other country has before.
eye35 / Alamy Stock Photo

Ayesha Verrall, New Zealand’s associate health minister, said of the move: “Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5bn better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations.”

She added: “We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth.

“People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.”

Advert

New Zealand is the first country in the world to introduce an annually rising smoking age, which ensures tobacco can’t be sold to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Other measures will also be introduced that make smoking less accessible and affordable.

For example, the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products will be dramatically reduced and they’ll be sold through specific tobacco stores instead of supermarkets and newsagents.

When the new laws come into effect next year, the amount of stores legally able to sell cigarettes will drop to a tenth of current levels - down from 6,000 to just 600.

Speaking back in July, Verrall said: “For decades we have permitted tobacco companies to maintain their market share by making their deadly product more and more addictive. It is disgusting and it is bizarre.

Advert

“We have more regulations in this country on the safety of the sale of a sandwich than on a cigarette.”

She added: “We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth. People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.”

It’s worth pointing out that New Zealand’s new laws won’t restrict the sale of vapes and that many New Zealanders have now ditched cigarettes in favour of vapes, according to data.

Featured Image Credit: BSIP SA / BSIP SA / Alamy

Topics: World News

Aisha Nozari
Aisha Nozari

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Social Security bosses send terrifying warning about exact date America will run out of cash

    A new report has detailed a bleak-looking future unless Congress steps in

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Diddy’s former assistant alleges disturbing ‘loyalty’ test he did to ‘prove’ himself to the rapper

    Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, took to the stand on Friday

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Netflix star Sara Burack found dead aged 40 as police launch manhunt for suspect on the run

    The famous realtor was reportedly killed on the highway

    Celebrity
  • 4 hours ago

    US Air Force reveals truth behind 'doomsday plane' and why it made 'highly unusual flight' after terrifying warning

    The so-called 'doomsday plane' took an unexpected flight earlier this week

    News
  • Country becomes first in the world to ban social media for children under 16
  • First lawyer with down syndrome reveals what type of law she is going to practice
  • Donald Trump unveils 'next generation' fighter jet amid WW3 threats but it's left everyone wondering the same thing
  • Trump plans to impose 18th century law used for 'internment camps' in World War II for mass deportations