New Zealand announced on Thursday the adoption of a plan to gradually raise the age at which tobacco can be purchased, with a view to banning tobacco sales.
Current regulations prohibit New Zealanders under the age of 18 from buying tobacco, but under the plan, that age limit will increase by one year every year starting in 2027, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said.
“We want to make sure that people never start smoking […] as they get older, they and future generations will never be able to legally buy tobacco,” she said.
The government will also pass a law to restrict the number of places that can sell tobacco, she further added, noting that products with low nicotine content will be allowed. This is to reduce the risk of addiction, she explained. The Minister said these measures will ensure that New Zealand remains a world leader in tobacco control.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand and is responsible for one in four cancer cases.
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