Today, New Zealand has passed that bill imposes a lifetime ban on young people buying tobacco or cigarettes into law. Lawmakers voted along party lines in passing the legislation 76 to 43.
The new law means anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 can’t smoke or buy cigarettes.
The goal is to make New Zealand smoke free on or before 2025. The bill is passed as a means to this end.
Enforcement of the new law will bring about the drastic reduction of retailers allowed to sell tobacco.
Associate Minister of Health Dr. Ayesha Verrall told lawmakers in Parliament:
‘There is no good reason to allow a product to be sold that kills half the people that use it, And I can tell you that we will end this in the future, as we pass this legislation.’
She continued, ‘The health system would save billions of dollars from not needing to treat illnesses caused by smoking, such as cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and amputations.
‘She said the bill would create generational change and leave a legacy of better health for youth.’
Health authorities share the belief that smoking will fade away well before 2025 with the new legislation passed. The law also means the minimum age for buying cigarettes will keep going up.
In theory, somebody trying to buy a pack of cigarettes 40 years from now would need ID to show they were at least 53 years old.
