Smoke-free by 2025: New Zealand butts out young smokers

In a bid to create a smoke-free generation, New Zealand has planned to impose a complete ban on young people from buying cigarettes in their lifetime. According to a new law expected to be enacted next year, people aged 14 or under will never be allowed to purchase cigarettes.

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Currently, New Zealand outlaws tobacco sales to those under 18. As per the new legislation, the legal smoking age will increase every year to create a smoke-free generation by 2025.

Other measures include reducing the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products to very low levels, cutting down the shops where cigarettes could legally be sold and increasing funding to addiction services. The new laws will not restrict vape sales.

Apart from New Zealand, many other countries like Australia, U.K., Japan, Italy and Brazil are also implementing strict policies to encourage people to quit smoking.

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