New Zealand has set itself the goal of weaning the young generation away from smoking, becoming the first country to follow this policy by even passing a draft law.
Specifically, New Zealand’s deputy health minister, Aiesa Verrall, said when the law was passed on Tuesday that “thousands of people will live longer and healthier lives, while the health system will not have to deal with the diseases caused by smoking, which it is estimated that they cost 5 billion dollars”.
According to the Guardian, New Zealand is believed to be the first country in the world to decide to raise the smoking age, effectively banning anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 from smoking.
Cigarettes only in certain shops
In the draft law there are also a series of other measures aimed at preventing young people from having access to nicotine products. Specifically, from now on, nicotine products must be sold in specialized tobacco shops and not in kiosks or supermarkets.
The country has also increased funding to health services and smoking cessation campaigns. The number of shops legally allowed to sell cigarettes will be dramatically reduced from 6,000 shops to just 600 nationwide.
The laws will come into effect in 2023 as New Zealand strives to achieve its goal of making the country “smoke-free” by 2025.
The reduction of smokers in the country is evident
“For decades we have allowed tobacco companies to maintain their market share by making their deadly product more and more addictive. It’s disgusting and weird. We have more regulations in this country about the safety of selling a sandwich than we do about a cigarette,” the deputy health minister had said before the new bill was passed.
Her practice, however, seems to be succeeding as the reduction in smoking rates has broken world records.
“Smoking rates are decreasing steeply”, added the minister and emphasized that “our goal is to be free from smoking by 2025 and this goal is achievable”.
However, it is noted that the specific laws do not concern vaping products.
Figures released in November showed that the number of people who smoked daily had fallen to 8% – from 9.4% last year. But the increase in vaping has increased, with 8.3% of adults now vaping daily, up from 6.2% the previous year.
