Cigarettes in an ashtray. Source: Pexels
The New Zealand government has just passed new legislation that will ban anyone born on or after January 1 2009 from buying cigarettes or tobacco products.
The new laws are some of the strictest in the world and will attempt to see New Zealand become a smoke-free nation.
New Zealand Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall says, “there is no good reason to allow a product to be sold that kills half the people that use it.”
Dr Verrall also said that she believes this is move “towards a smoke-free future” and says that “I can tell you that we will end this in the future, as we pass this legislation.”
While it is currently unclear what level of impact this legislation will have on the country, Dr Verrall is hopefully that there will be several positive outcomes resulting from the changes.
“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5 billion better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking,” she said.
“It means nicotine will be reduced to non-addictive levels and communities will be free from the proliferation and clustering of retailers who target and sell tobacco products in certain areas.”
When introducing the law Dr Verrall said that “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. We have more regulations in this country on the safety of the sale of a sandwich than on a cigarette.”
Not all members of the New Zealand Parliament were in support of the new changes.
ACT Party deputy leader Brooke van Velden says “We stand opposed to this bill because it’s a bad bill and it’s bad policy. It’s that straightforward and simple.”
“No one wants to see people smoke, but the reality is, some will and Labour’s nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems,” she said.
