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In a shock reversal, New Zealand removes its smoking ban


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New Zealand removes its smoking ban

According to reports, the country's world-class smoking ban will be repealed by the new government of New Zealand in order to pay for tax breaks.

The law was introduced during the previous government led by Jacinda Ardern, and if it had been passed, it would have made it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone who was born after 2008. The aim of the strategy was to deter smoking among the next generation, as it is the leading preventable cause of death in New Zealand.

Experts in health have harshly criticized the abrupt turnabout.

The law of the previous year, the principal reforms of which were backed by research models, received widespread international praise. Two of the methods were lowering the nicotine content of cigarettes and restricting the number of tobacco stores. Modeling suggests that the Smokefree laws could save up to 5,000 lives a year.

It was rumored that the UK government was influenced by the smoking ban in New Zealand to announce a similar restriction on youth smoking in September. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's stance has not altered in response to New Zealand's reversal, according to a spokesman.

Despite being applauded as a public health initiative, several business groups in New Zealand opposed the Smokefree measures. Even with government subsidies, corner store and newsagent owners criticized the revenue loss.

A ban on tobacco products would create a black market, according to some lawmakers, including Chris Luxon, the newly appointed prime minister.


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