New Zealand Passes Law Banning Cigarettes For Future Generations

Next year, New Zealand will gradually implement an almost complete tobacco prohibition. According to legislation that the parliament approved on Tuesday, no one who was born after 2008 will ever be permitted to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products.

As a result, fewer people will be able to purchase tobacco each year. For instance, 40-year-olds won't be allowed to purchase cigarettes in 2050.

The bill's sponsor, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, described it as a move "toward 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," Dr Verrall said.

According to official statistics issued in November, New Zealand's smoking rate is already at historic lows, with just 8% of adults smoking every day, down from 9.4% the year before.

By 2025, it is intended that the Smoke-free Environments Bill would bring that number down to fewer than 5%, with the ultimate goal of doing away with the practice entirely.

The measure also aims to cut nicotine levels in goods to make them less addictive and limit the number of stores that can sell smoked tobacco products to 600 nationally from the current 6,000.

"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.

She continued by saying that the law might reduce the difference in life expectancy between Maori and non-Maori citizens. Maori citizens as a whole smoke 19.9% less than they did a year ago, when it was 22.3%.

Vape goods, which have become far more popular among younger generations than cigarettes, are not prohibited by the new regulation.

The ACT party, which has 10 seats in parliament, is among the bill's opponents. They have warned that the legislation may encourage the illegal market for tobacco goods and lead to the closure of small businesses.

“No one wants to see people smoke, but Labour's nanny state ban on it will lead to issues,” according to ACT Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden.