New Zealand Ban Tobacco for Everybody Born After 2008
New Zealand is banning tobacco for everybody born after 2008. The parliament approved the Smokefree Environments and regulated products (smoked tobacco) amendment bill. With that it makes sales of tobacco illegal to anyone born on, or after January 1st 2009, now and in the future.
“There is no good reason to allow a product to be sold that kills half the people that use it,” said Dr. Ayesha Verrall, associate minister of health, during the legislative process. “And I can tell you that we will end this in the future, as we pass this legislation.” To ensure compliance with the law, retailers who violate the law once it goes into effect will face a monetary penalty of up to NZ$150,000 ($97,175).
The next step is to reduce the number of tobacco retailers until only 600 of the current 6000 are left. Only specialized tobacco stores will be allowed to sell cigars, and the amount of nicotine per products has to be lowered.
“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5bn better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations,” said Verrall.
Basically the New Zealand government is handing tobacco over to illegal importers and criminals, while electronic smoking will still be allowed. The ACT party voted against the bill, but lost the vote in a 76-43 result.
“No one wants to see people smoke, but the reality is, some will,” said Brooke van Velden, ACT’s Deputy Leader. “And Labour’s nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems. Prohibition has never worked in any time or place and it always has unintended consequences. Eventually, we will end up with a black market for tobacco, with no standards or regulation, and people will be harmed.” She also noted that it will have an adverse effect on businesses that sell tobacco products.
