Future generations banned on buying cigarettes

Future generations of New Zealanders will be banned from purchasing tobacco as part of a package of new anti-smoking laws that passed parliament on Tuesday and are among the most strict in the world.

The suite of new laws include bans on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, punishable by fines up to NZ$150,000 ($95,910). The ban will remain in place for a person’s whole life.

The legislation will also reduce the amount of nicotine allowed in smoked tobacco products and cut the number of retailers able to sell tobacco by 90 per cent – down to 600 by the end of 2023 from 6000.

“This legislation accelerates progress towards a smoke-free future,” Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said in a statement.

“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be NZ$5 billion better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations.”

Already boasting one of the lowest adult smoking rates among the 38 countries of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, New Zealand is further tightening anti-smoking laws as part of a government push to make the country “smoke-free” by 2025.

The bill was first introduced a year ago. Then Verrall said more needed to be done to stop young people from taking up smoking in the first place and to make it less addictive and appealing.

“People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.”