It is a strong but necessary decision that New Zealand will take in this new year 2022. Indeed, the New Zealand government has declared that it will ban all sales of cigarettes for future generations, as part of efforts taken by the country to become smoke-free by 2025.
THE GOAL: AVOIDING 4000 TO 5000 PREMATURE DEATHS PER YEAR!
Announced in December, the ban means anyone aged 14 or younger will never be able to legally buy tobacco in the country. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death today in New Zealand . It is the cause of one in four cancers and leads to 4 to 000 premature deaths each year.
Health sector officials believe that the measures taken recently will eliminate smoking in the country, making New Zealand the first country in the world to become completely smoke-free.
This legislation, however, does not provide for a ban on vaping, which studies have shown is two to three times more prevalent than smoking in the country… The new law to implement the ban is expected to pass in the course of of the year 2022.
