The country that wants to ban the sale of cigarettes to people born after 2004 to be “smoke-free” | the Chronicle

In the last hours, New Zealand began to study a series of anti-smoking measures that include a ban on the sale of cigarettes to people born after 2004 as part of a plan to achieve a “smoke-free” nation by 2025.

Under the name of the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan, Authorities plan to approve significant reduction in the level of nicotine allowed in tobacco and establish on-site restrictions where cigarettes can be sold. In addition, they are studying the gradual increase in the legal smoking age and finally the ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2004.

The objective of the initiative is phasing out tobacco consumption in the country over the next few years, thus creating a “smoke-free” by 2025. The Ministry of Health explained that while smoking rates have declined over the past decade, “there is still a lot to do”, in particular to reduce consumption between “the Maori, the peoples of the Pacific and those who live in our most disadvantaged communities”.

Health officials invited citizens to make suggestions on the action plan, which was officially released on Thursday. New Zealanders will have until May 31 to share their ratings before the initiative enters the next phase to become law.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Ayesha Verrall, said the government wants to hear from the people and businesses concerned about possible measures to further reduce the smoking rate in the country.

“About 4,500 New Zealanders die from tobacco each year and we need to move quickly to be able to achieve this goal. Doing business as usual without the tobacco control program is not going to get us there, ”he said.

During, various experts have warned that limiting the sale of tobacco bankrupt store owners and the restrictions could fuel an unregulated black market.