NZ bans all young people from ever buying tobacco

Anyone born after 2008 is prohibited from buying cigarettes in attempt to create a smoke-free future

NEW ZEALAND is aiming to create a smoking-free future by banning young people from buying tobacco in one of the world’s toughest restrictions on cigarettes. Under a law expected to be enacted next year, anyone born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in their lifetime.

Dr Ayesha Verrall, a health minister, yesterday said: “We want to make sure people never start smoking... as they age, they and future generations will never be able to legally purchase tobacco, because the truth is there is no safe age to start smoking.”

The country currently outlaws tobacco sales to under-18s and Dr Verrall said that from 2027 the age ban would increase by one year annually to keep the cohort smoke-free. Last month, New Zealand became the first country to permanently legalise recreational drug testing, allowing people to be tested at festivals and nightclubs.

The trial was sparked after several incidents where festival-goers developed serious symptoms, including seizures, after taking pills.

It follows a law change in 2019 that allowed police to use their discretion over whether to prosecute people for possession of small amounts of illegal drugs. Critics said the move by Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government could be seen as the decriminalisation of previously banned substances.

In contrast, Dr Verrall said that Wellington would restrict where tobacco was sold and only allow products with low nicotine levels into the market.

As many as 8,000 retailers sell tobacco in New Zealand, but this will be cut to around 500 under the new rules.

Dr Verrall said the measures maintained New Zealand’s role as a global trailblazer in restricting tobacco.

“This is a historic day for the health of our people,” she said. “Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand.”

She said the health toll was particularly heavy in Maori and Pacific communities, where smoking rates are around double the 13.5 per cent recorded in the rest of the population.

“If nothing changes, it would be decades before Maori smoking rates fall below 5 per cent and this government is not prepared to leave anyone behind.”

The government aims to reduce the rate to 5 per cent by 2025 and estimates that achieving the goal would save the health system NZ$5.5 billion (£2.7 billion).

Action on Smoking and Health, a lobby group, hailed the government for challenging “Big Tobacco”.

“This collection of complementary measures will be the envy of countries struggling to combat the death and misery caused by tobacco,” it said.

British American Tobacco New Zealand said the measures were “untested, unproven and without any scientific evidence of effectiveness”.