New Zealand has passed the world's strictest anti-smoking law which will prohibit future generations from purchasing tobacco. The new ban on smoking, approved by Parliament on Tuesday, sets an unprecedented standard in the fight against tobacco consumption.
This new law includes a ban on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1st, 2009, with fines of up to 150,000 New Zealand dollars ($95,910 USD). The ban will last for the lifetime of the individual.
This legislation will also decrease the permissible nicotine content in tobacco products and reduce the number of retailers allowed to sell tobacco by 90%.
This legislation has expedited the process of achieving a smoke-free future," said Dr. Ayesha Verrall, Deputy Minister of Health, in a statement.
Thousands of people will live longer and healthier lives while the healthcare system will save $5 billion by not having to treat smoking-related illnesses, such as various types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.
By the end of 2023, the number of retailers authorized to sell tobacco will decrease from 6,000 to 600.
New Zealand, one of the countries with the lowest adult smoking rates among the 38 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, is further tightening its anti-smoking laws as part of the government's goal to make the country "smoke-free" by 2025.
Bhutan, which banned cigarette sales in 2010, is set to enact stricter anti-smoking laws.
Over the past decade, the number of adult smokers in New Zealand has decreased by half, lowering to 8%, with 56,000 people quitting smoking last year. According to OECD data, 25% of French adults smoke in 2021.
Verrall stated that this legislation will help reduce the life expectancy gap between Māori and non-Māori citizens, which could be as high as 25% for women.
The ACT New Zealand, with 10 seats out of the total 120 in Parliament, has condemned the law, stating that it will result in the closure of small businesses and force people to resort to the black market.
No one wants to see people smoking, but the reality is that some people are willing to do so. The Labor nanny state ban will cause problems," said Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden.
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