New Zealand , Takes First Step Towards , Total-Tobacco Ban.
On December 13, New Zealand passed legislation that will begin , a near-total tobacco ban , that starts taking effect next year.
The legislation will ban anyone born after 2008 from ever buying cigarettes or other tobacco products.
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The ban means that the number of people able to purchase tobacco will shrink every year.
Under the legislation, 40-year-olds will be too young to buy cigarettes by the year 2050.
According to Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, who introduced the bill, the legislation is the first step "towards 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, Ayesha Verrall, Health Minister, via BBC.
BBC reports that the smoking rate in New Zealand has already reached historic lows.
According to government statistics released in November, just 8% of adults in the country still smoke daily.
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The Smokefree Environments Bill aims at reducing that number to less than 5% by the year 2025.
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The legislation hopes to eventually eliminate the practice entirely.
The bill will also limit the number of retailers allowed to sell tobacco products from 6,000 down to just 600 nationwide.
BBC reports that the legislation will also require tobacco producers to reduce the level of nicotine in their products to make them less addictive.
BBC reports that the legislation will also require tobacco producers to reduce the level of nicotine in their products to make them less addictive
