New Zealand will be banning tobacco sales for anyone born after 2008.
New Zealand news site Stuff reports that the country's government plans to ban young people from ever buying tobacco products. Anyone born before 2008 will be allowed to purchase tobacco if they can prove their age.
The country's Associate Health Minister said in a video that it would be an offence to sell or supply smoke tobacco products to new people. When the law comes into effect, people aged 14 will not be able to legally purchase tobacco.
New Zealand has a legal smoking age of 18 years old. The law won't affect young people until at least four years from now.
The law could result in a situation where people in New Zealand could still purchase cigarettes if they can prove they were at least 80 years old. Stores might not sell tobacco products by that time due to low demand caused by the law.
Smoking-related illnesses are the leading cause of preventable deaths in the country, so it makes sense that it would be an urgent policy issue.
Verrall told the Associated Press that they meet someone every day who is facing the misery caused by tobacco. People die in horrible ways. Being short of breath is caused by tobacco.
The smoking rate in New Zealand is still higher than the rest of the developed world, which makes them more vulnerable to smoking related illnesses.
It is a major move for the Pacific island nation. A permanent ban like this will have a huge impact on the number of smoking-related deaths.
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