New Zealand passed world’s first legislation against smoking, banning smoking for citizens born on or after January 1, 2009.
The New Zealand parliament on Tuesday passed the anti-smoking bill according to which people born on or after January 1, 2009 would not be allowed to buy cigarettes or tobacco products.
“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, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations,” said Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, who introduced the bill in the parliament, while noting that it was a step “towards a smoke-free future”.
The ban on sales of tobacco products is aimed at preventing the coming generations from taking up smoking and is part of an extensive governmental drive to make the country “smoke free” by 2025.
The legislation will also reduce the number of retailers licensed to sell tobacco products, from 6,000 to 600 by the end of 2023 and will also slash nicotine levels in products to make them less addictive.
“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,” Dr. Verrall said.
Vape products, however, have not been included in the banned tobacco products under the new legislation, nonetheless have become far more popular among younger generations than cigarettes.
Legislation could result in black sales
Critics of the bill including the ACT party argued that the legislation could ignite a black market in tobacco products and stamp out small shops.
“No one wants to see people smoke, but the reality is, some will and Labour’s nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems,” said ACT Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden.
Violations of the new law are punishable by fines of up to NZ$150,000 (about $96,000).
Smoking rates in New Zealand, which are already among the world’s lowest, have been continuously decreasing, having dropped from 9.4% to 8% in the past 12 months, according to the Associate Health Minister.