New Zealand , Takes First Step Towards , Total-Tobacco Ban.<br />On December 13, New Zealand <br />passed legislation that will begin , a near-total tobacco ban , that starts taking effect next year.<br />The legislation will ban anyone <br />born after 2008 from ever buying <br />cigarettes or other tobacco products. .<br />The ban means that the number <br />of people able to purchase <br />tobacco will shrink every year.<br />Under the legislation, <br />40-year-olds will be too young <br />to buy cigarettes by the year 2050.<br />According to Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, <br />who introduced the bill, the legislation is <br />the first step "towards a smoke-free future".<br />Thousands of people will live longer, <br />healthier lives and the health system <br />will be NZ$5 billion (US$3.2 billion) <br />better off from not needing to treat <br />the illnesses caused by smoking, Ayesha Verrall, Health Minister, via BBC.<br />BBC reports that the smoking rate <br />in New Zealand has already <br />reached historic lows.<br />According to government statistics <br />released in November, just 8% of adults <br />in the country still smoke daily. .<br />The Smokefree Environments Bill <br />aims at reducing that number <br />to less than 5% by the year 2025. .<br />The legislation hopes <br />to eventually eliminate <br />the practice entirely.<br />The bill will also limit the number <br />of retailers allowed to sell tobacco products <br />from 6,000 down to just 600 nationwide.<br />BBC reports that the legislation will also require<br />tobacco producers to reduce the level of nicotine <br />in their products to make them less addictive.<br />BBC reports that the legislation will also require<br />tobacco producers to reduce the level of nicotine <br />in their products to make them less addictive
