A 2013-born person will not be allowed to purchase a pack of cigarettes legally.

New Zealand wants to ban all young people from purchasing cigarettes.

A new law will prohibit anyone under 14 from buying cigarettes for the rest their lives.

The government hopes to create a smoke-free generation within five years. However, critics claim it will destroy business and create a black market.

A statement by Ayesha Verrall, New Zealand Associate Minister for Health, stated that "we want to ensure young people never begin smoking" and added that it would be an offense to sell or supply smoked tobacco products.

"If nothing changes it will be decades before Maori smoking rates drop below 5%. This government is not ready to abandon people."

Today, more than a third of the country's 15-year-olds smoke. However, among Maori adults, it is less than one in three. Four in five smokers began smoking before age 18.

The new legislation is due to be introduced to Parliament in June. It will become law by next year.

According to Reuters the new laws will be stricter than those in Bhutan, where selling cigarettes is prohibited.

According to the outlet, Alistair Humphrey, chair of New Zealand Medical Association said that smoking causes 14 deaths per day in New Zealand and that two thirds of smokers will die from it. This action plan gives us hope for achieving our 2025 Smokefree Aotearoa goal and keeping our Maori children (tamariki) smoke-free.

However, voices from the small business and tobacco industries opposed the move, insisting that it would only increase illegal sales.

Imperial Brands stated in a statement that "prohibitions of all kinds tend to play into criminal traders who sell unregulated illicit goods."

Sunny Kaushal, chairman of Dairy and Business Owners Group, agreed to speak with Stuff.co.nz.

He said, "This is 100 percent theory and zero substance." "There will be a wave of crime. Criminals and gangs will fill the gaps with ciggie (illegal drugs) houses.

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Title: New Zealand to Ban Kids From Smoking — For The Rest of Their Lives
Sourced From: toofab.com/2021/12/09/new-zealand-to-ban-kids-from-smoking-for-the-rest-of-their-lives/
Published Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:16:52 +0000

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