New Zealand will lift the world’s first smoking ban for generations to come
[ad_1]
The New Zealand government plans to repeal the world’s first smoking ban for generations to come. The reason for this decision is the reduction of taxes.
In 2022, the country passed a groundbreaking law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born in 2009 and later. The law was supposed to prevent deaths from smoking and save billions of dollars for the health care system, writes The Guardian.
The plan to phase out smoking for future generations included measures to make smoking less accessible.
It provided for a sharp reduction in the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products and permission to sell them only through special tobacco shops.
| Photo: Tegra Stone Nuess/gettyimages |
At the same time, the number of shops allowed to sell cigarettes was to be reduced 10 times – from 6,000 to only 600 across the country.
The law was supposed to enter into force in July 2024.
However, as part of the coalition agreement, the national party “New Zealand First” agreed to repeal the law, including amendments to reduce the permitted amount of nicotine in tobacco products, their sale only through specialized tobacco shops, as well as age restrictions.
This, politicians claim, should help attract more money to the country’s budget.
As Finance Minister Nicola Willis said, the ban will be lifted by March 2024.
However, according to health officials, this step “will lead to the death of thousands of people.”
“This is a huge loss for public health and a huge win for the tobacco industry, whose profits will be increased at the expense of human lives.Professor Lisa Te Morenga noted.
Read also: “Smoke from electronic cigarettes immobilizes immune cells – research”
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
