New Zealand set to become smokefree by 2025

 


New Zealand law that forbids the sale of cigarettes to anybody born after January 1, 2009, has passed its third reading, marking one of the strongest crackdowns on the tobacco industry in the world. It represents yet another step toward the government's objective of having a smoke-free nation by 2025.

The number of shops across the nation that are legally allowed to sell cigarettes will drop from 6,000 to 600, according to The Guardian. The legislation, which will take effect in 2023 as New Zealand works to become "smoke-free" by 2025, passed its final reading on Tuesday night.

"Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives," Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said during the law's passage on Tuesday. "The health system will be $5 billion better off because we won't have to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and amputations."

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, according to The New Zealand Herald, makes three main changes: reducing the nicotine content of smoked tobacco products; reducing the number of retailers who sell tobacco; and ensuring that no tobacco is ever sold to anyone who was born on or after January 1, 2009.

With support from Labour, the Greens, and Te Paati Maori, the bill passed its final reading in Parliament and is now expected to become law.

Only 8% of adults in New Zealand smoke every day, which is significantly lower than the 9.4% smoking rate from a year and a half ago and half the percentage from ten years ago.

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