New Zealand , Takes First Step Towards , Total-Tobacco Ban.
On December 13, New Zealand
passed legislation that will begin , a near-total tobacco ban , that starts taking effect next year.
The legislation will ban anyone
born after 2008 from ever buying
cigarettes or other tobacco products. .
The ban means that the number
of people able to purchase
tobacco will shrink every year.
Under the legislation,
40-year-olds will be too young
to buy cigarettes by the year 2050.
According to Health Minister Ayesha Verrall,
who introduced the bill, the legislation is
the first step "towards a smoke-free future".
Thousands of people will live longer,
healthier lives and the health system
will be NZ$5 billion (US$3.2 billion)
better off from not needing to treat
the illnesses caused by smoking, Ayesha Verrall, Health Minister, via BBC.
BBC reports that the smoking rate
in New Zealand has already
reached historic lows.
According to government statistics
released in November, just 8% of adults
in the country still smoke daily. .
The Smokefree Environments Bill
aims at reducing that number
to less than 5% by the year 2025. .
The legislation hopes
to eventually eliminate
the practice entirely.
The bill will also limit the number
of retailers allowed to sell tobacco products
from 6,000 down to just 600 nationwide.
BBC reports that the legislation will also require
tobacco producers to reduce the level of nicotine
in their products to make them less addictive.
BBC reports that the legislation will also require
tobacco producers to reduce the level of nicotine
in their products to make them less addictive