New Zealand announced that it will ban smoking for the next generation, so that those who are currently 14 and under will never be legally able to buy tobacco.
All those born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products during their lifetime, according to a law expected to be passed next year. The new legislation means that the legal smoking age will be increased every year, to create a smoke-free generation, said on Thursday the Minister of Health Dr. Ayesha Verrall.
"This is a historic day for the health of our people," she said.
The government announced the increase in age along with other measures to make smoking unaffordable and unattainable, an effort to achieve the main goal: a completely smoke-free country within the next four years.
Other measures include reducing the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products, closing shops that legally sell cigarettes, and increasing funding for addiction services.
