New Zealand to ban smoking for next generation

New Zealanders under 14 today will never be able to purchase tobacco legally in the country, under new legislation to be introduced.
The new laws will see the legal smoking age increase every year until it is outlawed in 2025, with older generations only being able to buy products with reduced nicotine levels in fewer shops.
It’s part of the government’s Smokefree 2025 action plan.
“We’ve had a long term goal of trying to be smoke-free by 2025,” Dr Ayesha Verrall, New Zealand Associate Minister for Health said on 6PR Mornings.
“It’s a really important goal to the Maori community in New Zealand, because they have higher smoking rates, and we know that if we don’t make this change it’ll be decades before their smoke-free.
“Where as the European population … they’ll probably be smoke-free by 2025.
“So we need to do this to make sure we don’t leave anyone behind.”
Press PLAY to hear the full interview below
Image: iStock by Getty