New Zealand this week adopted a steadily rising tobacco-purchase age and mandated the near-elimination of nicotine from all cigarettes sold in the country, pushing forward on a plan to create a smoke-free nation as other countries consider similar measures.
The law passed Tuesday bans the sale of tobacco products in New Zealand to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, so those who are age 13 or younger today will never be able to legally purchase tobacco in their lifetimes. Under the law, the number of retail outlets allowed to sell tobacco will be reduced to 600 from about 6,000 by the end of next year. The law also requires the reduction of nicotine in cigarettes to nonaddictive levels—a policy that is expected to be implemented by 2024.
