New Zealand unveils plan to phase out tobacco sales

New Zealand unveils plan to phase out tobacco sales

“We want to make sure that people never start smoking … As they get older, they and future generations will never be able to legally acquire tobacco, because the truth is that there is no safe age to start smoking.”, argument.

The associate minister noted that the government will also legislate to restrict where tobacco is sold and only allow low-nicotine products on the market to reduce the chances that people will become addicted.

According to Verrall, this plan sets New Zealand an example in the fight against cigarettes, with actions such as banning cigarette brand sponsorships in sports in 1990 or banning smoking in bars in 2004.

“It is a historic day for the health of our people”, said. “Smoking is still the leading cause of predictable death in New Zealand, causing one in four cancers”he added.

The minister pointed out that the harmful effects of tobacco fell especially in the Maori and Pacific communities, where the average number of smokers was double that of 13.5% of the rest of the population.

The government hopes to reduce this percentage to 5% by 2025, which, in its opinion, would save the public system US $ 3.6 million.

Source From: Ambito

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