Future generations of New Zealanders will be prohibited from purchasing tobacco as part of a package of new anti-smoking laws passed by parliament on Tuesday, which are among the strictest in the world.
The new laws include prohibitions on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, which are punishable by fines of up to NZ$150,000 ($95,910). The prohibition will last the rest of a person’s life.
The legislation will also reduce the amount of nicotine permitted in smoked tobacco products and reduce the number of tobacco retailers by 90%.
“This legislation accelerates progress towards a smokefree future,” said Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall in a statement.
“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5 billion better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations.”
Tobacco retailers will be reduced from 6,000 to 600 by the end of 2023.
New Zealand, which already has one of the lowest adult smoking rates among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s 38 member countries, is tightening anti-smoking laws as part of a government push to make the country “smokefree” by 2025.
Only Bhutan, which banned the sale of cigarettes in 2010, will have stricter anti-smoking legislation.
The legislation, according to Verrall, will help close the life expectancy gap between Maori and non-Maori citizens, which can be as much as 25% for women.
ACT New Zealand, which has ten of the 120 seats in parliament, has condemned the law, claiming that it will kill small businesses and force people to shop on the black market.
“No one wants to see people smoke, but the reality is, some will. And Labour’s nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems,” said Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden.