https://reasonstobecheerful.world/smoking-ban-new-zealand-under-18/
"For years, New Zealand has been trying to kick its smoking habit. Around half
a million New Zealanders smoke tobacco every day — the equivalent of more than
one in ten of all adults — and thousands die from it each year.
In an attempt to finally stub out smoking, the government last month tabled a
set of forward-looking and in some cases radical proposals largely aimed at
reducing rates of smoking in younger and minority groups, pinning its hopes on
a generational shift in behavior.
Among the health ministry’s proposals are a gradual increase of the legal
smoking age from 18 to 25, and a lifetime ban on the sale of cigarettes and
tobacco products to anyone born after 2004. In other words, should these
proposals be adopted, any New Zealander currently under 18 years old would
never be able to buy cigarettes legally.
Other plans to combat smoking include significantly reducing the level of
nicotine allowed in tobacco products, prohibiting flavored filters, setting a
minimum price for tobacco, and heavily restricting the number of locations
where tobacco and cigarettes can be sold. These follow previous policies such
as creating outside smoke-free areas, introducing a tobacco excise tax and
banning advertising.
“We need a new approach,” said Dr. Ayesha Verrall, New Zealand’s associate
health minister, in a statement about the proposals. “About 4,500 New
Zealanders die every year from tobacco, and we need to make accelerated
progress to be able to reach that goal. Business-as-usual without a tobacco
control program won’t get us there.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
