WORLD'S FIRST TOBACCO LAW INTRODUCED

New Zealand has passed the worlds first tobacco law to outlaw smoking for the next generation.

This has been achieved by steadily rising smoking age to stop those aged 14 and under from ever being able to buy cigarettes legally within the country. Therefore ensuring tobacco cannot be sold to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 in a world first move to eventually ban smoking.

The law passed on Tuesday with Ayesha Verrall the associate health minister said:

In addition to raising the legal age it accompanies a multitude of additional measures to make smoking less affordable and accessible, which include dramatically reducing the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products and forcing them to be sold only through specialty tobacco stores, rather than supermarkets or local stores.


New Zealand aims to reach its 'smoke free' goal by 2025 following the laws passed their final reading on Tuesday evening, and will come into force in 2023. It is important to note that the new laws, will not restrict vape sales.