New Zealand has passed a new law to phase out smoking by imposing a lifetime ban on young people buying cigarettes. The law states that tobacco can't ever be sold to anybody born on or after January 1, 2009, but do not affect vaping. READ MORE: 9News
She said the health system would save billions of dollars from not needing to treat illnesses caused by smoking, such as cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and amputations.MPs voted along party lines in passing the legislation 76 to 43.
The libertarian ACT party, which opposed the bill, said many small corner stores, known in New Zealand as dairies, would go out of business because they would no longer be able to sell cigarettes.New Zealand Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall told MPs the new law to phase out smoking would save the health system billions of dollars.
"We stand opposed to this bill because it's a bad bill and its bad policy, it's that straightforward and simple," said Brooke van Velden, ACT's deputy leader. "There won't be better outcomes for New Zealanders." She said the gradual ban amounted to "nanny-state prohibition" that would end up creating a large black market. She said prohibition never worked and always ended with unintended consequences.Statistics New Zealand reported last month that 8 per cent of New Zealand adults smoked daily, down from 16 per cent from 10 years ago. Meanwhile, 8.3 per cent of adults vaped daily, up from less than 1 per cent six years ago.
New Zealand already restricts cigarette sales to those aged 18 and over, requires tobacco packs to come with graphic health warnings and cigarettes to be sold in standardised packs.The law change was welcomed by several health agencies. Health Coalition Aotearoa said the new law represented the culmination of decades of hard-fought advocacy by health and community organisations.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Travis Cloke: New Zealand businessman buys Collingwood premiership star’s Kangaroo Ground property - realestate.com.auFormer AFL player Travis Cloke and wife Rebeccah have sold their house in Melbourne’s outer northeast to a man who has exciting plans for its future
Read more »
New Zealand bans future generations from buying cigarettesThe new laws state tobacco can never be sold to anybody born on or after January 1, 2009.
Read more »
New Zealand passes world-first tobacco law to ban smoking for next generationThe country is believed to be the first to implement an annually rising legal smoking age
Read more »
Jacinda Ardern caught on hot mic calling minor opposition party leader an ‘arrogant prick’New Zealand PM apologised for comment made live on parliament television during question time
Read more »
Jacinda Ardern apologises for calling another politician an 'arrogant pr--k'New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has apologised for calling another another politician an 'arrogant pr--k' in parliament. Read more:
Read more »